Will the revised NICE guidelines fuel population caesarean rates in Britain?

Abstract

In November 2011, the UK National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence published revised clinical guidelines for caesarean section procedures, reiterating the need for a woman-centred care approach to childbirth care such that pregnant women should receive evidence-based and comprehensible information to enable them to make informed decisions about childbirth. This article describes how recent demographic changes in the UK might influence future population caesarean rates within an informed choices service framework. It highlights the need to integrate demographic forecasts with reproductive health policies to accurately forecast the future demand for caesarean births.