Cesarean birth in the border region: a descriptive analysis based on US Hispanic and Mexican birth certificates

Cesarean birth (CB) is more prevalent in the US-Mexico border region than among all US Hispanics. Comparable data from US and Mexican birth certificates can be used to compare prevalence and identify risk factors on either side of the border. Using 2009 US and Mexican birth certificates, we compared the characteristics of US Hispanic and Mexican CBs in six geographic subgroups: US and Mexican border counties/municipios, US and Mexican non-border counties/municipios and the US and Mexico overall. We also explored cesarean prevalence over time. During 2000-2009, CB rates increased from 22.1 to 31.6 % among US Hispanics and from 25.9 to 37.9 % among Hispanics in the US border region. 2009 rates were 44.5 % in Mexico and 43.1 % in the Mexican border region. In both countries, CB rates were similar for primiparas and multiparas. Higher education, being married and parity >4 were associated with CB in Mexico; being married was associated in the US. Hispanic rates were higher in the US border than non-border region for all age groups. Along the border, cesarean rates for Hispanics were highest in Texas (43.5 %) and neighboring Tamaulipas (49.8 %). Higher cesarean prevalence in Mexico than in US Hispanics, while unexplained, is consistent with high prevalence in some Latin American countries. Higher cesarean prevalence among Hispanics in the US border region than among Hispanics nationwide cannot be explained by maternal age or parity. Medical indications are also unlikely to explain such high rates, which are undesirable for mothers and infants.