More births by caesarean section in German-speaking Switzerland than in French-speaking Switzerland

There are more children born by caesarean section in German-speaking Switzerland than in French-speaking Switzerland, according to a report released by the Health Observatory, Obsan.

The report analyses data from 2021 and shows that out of nearly 87,000 births in the country, nearly 29,000 were by caesarean section. 

The national average is higher in nine German-speaking cantons, with the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zug being the highest at more than 40 per cent.

By comparison, 27 per cent of births in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva were by caesarean section.

Eric Masserey, a doctor in the canton of Valais, says that the difference in rates of caesarean sections between French and German-speaking cantons can most easily be explained by cultural differences and different styles of training for doctors. 

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