Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Ethnicity and risk of caesarean section in a term, nulliparous New Zealand obstetric cohort
Ngaire H Anderson1, Lynn C Sadler, Alistair W Stewart
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. ngaire.anderson@auckland.ac.nz
Background:
One in four New Zealand (NZ) women undergo caesarean section (CS); however, little is understood about how ethnicity influences CS rates. Previous NZ studies do not include many of NZ's ethnic groups and have been unable to account comprehensively for clinical risk factors.
Aim:
To investigate ethnicity as an independent risk factor for elective and emergency CS in nulliparous women at term. We hypothesised that compared with European, Māori and Pacific women would have a lower risk of elective CS, but there would be no ethnic differences in emergency CS.
Methods:
This was a retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively recorded maternity data at National Women's Health, Auckland, NZ from 2006 to 2009. The study population was 11 848 singleton, nulliparous, term births. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed for elective and emergency CS, accounting for comprehensive confounding factors.
Results:
The overall CS rate was 31.2% (elective 7.8%, n = 923 and emergency 23.4%, n = 2770). Compared with European ethnicity, Pacific and Chinese women had a reduced odds of elective CS (adjusted odds ratios, aOR 0.42, [95% CI 0.24-0.73] and 0.68, [0.49-0.94], respectively), while Indian women had an increased odds of emergency CS (aOR 1.54, [1.26-1.88]). Rates of elective or emergency CS for other ethnicities were similar to European.
Conclusions:
After adjustment for confounding, we report ethnic differences in elective and emergency CS rates, which may be related to patient and/or care provider factors. Further prospective research is recommended to examine reasons for these ethnic differences in CS rates.
More Related Videos
14:43A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
05:46Introduction of Intracapsular Rotary-cut Procedures (IRCP): A Modified Hysteromyomectomy Procedures Facilitating Fertility Preservation
Published on: January 17, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Relative Risk
Nondisjunction
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...