Odisha govt expands C-Section Audit for Private hospitals

Bhubaneswar: In view of the rise in the Caesarean Section for child delivery, the Odisha government has expanded Caesarean Section (C-Section) Audit of delivery cases to all private hospitals. This a significant step towards maternal and child health care

Director Family Welfare issued instructions to the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers of all districts and Urban bodies to this effect last evening.

The authorities have been asked to ensure implementation of the audit in their respective areas of jurisdiction from May 1 of the current year.

It may be pertinent here to mention that previously C-Section Audit was being done in all Government health facilities.

Available data showed that there a sharp increase in caesarean deliveries between National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 of 2015-16 and NFHS-5 of 2019-21. During this period, C-Section increased from 53.7% to 70.7% which was higher than the ideal C-Section rate recommended by WHO panel of reproductive child health.

The Panel after re-examining the C-Section Rate in 2015 also mentioned, “At population level, caesarean section rates higher than 10% are not associated with reductions in maternal and new born mortality rates”. This indicated the need for addressing the cause of C-Section rise in the State.

Considering this the Odisha Government has decided to expand C-section audit system to all private health facilities as well. For the purpose, three different prototype audit formats were worked out, and circulated to all districts. At first level the audit would be done as per specifications in Format-A which would be compiled in Format-B. The CDMPHOs after due scrutiny would submit the report to the Directorate in Format-C.

Each CDMPHO was also asked to designate a programme officer for coordinating with private health facilities regarding proper implementation of the C-Section Audit.