More than 37% of caesarean sections and 321 fetal or newborn deaths in 2021

The health regulatory authority announced on Monday that more than 37% of the 75,468 births in 2021 were by caesarean section, accounting for 321 fetal and newborn deaths in mainland Portugal in the same year.

“In National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, the percentage of caesarean sections in the total number of births was 30.7%, in contrast to the reality of private and social hospitals, where the percentage of caesarean sections rose to 65.9% of births performed in these institutions,” testifies on ERS monitoring of obstetric health care providers.

According to the document, the most representative type of caesarean section in private and social hospitals was planned (49.0%), while in public hospitals the most frequent was emergency caesarean section (53.9%).

Of the 75,468 births performed in 2021, 60,759 were in public hospitals and the remaining 14,709 were in departments outside the SNA.

The regulatory body’s analysis also shows that there were 321 fetal and newborn deaths (up to 28 days of age) in mainland Portugal this year, with a death-per-birth ratio of 0.42%, higher in the regions of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo. (0.52%) and Alentejo (0.45%).

In terms of maternal deaths, ERS found that there were three in mainland Portugal in 2021.

In terms of the accessibility of 61 public and private maternity hospitals, ERS adds that about 91% of women of childbearing age have moderate or high access to these health services, but 8% of this female population still experience “low access”. access or excessive distance”, more than 60 minutes from your place of residence.

“Given only the supply of 39 SNS maternity hospitals, the population with low access or excessive distance changes very little, but the population with high access is declining from 64% to about 30%, with health regions. The North, Center and Lisbon, as well as the Vale do Tejo, are undergoing the biggest changes,” the regulator warns, however.

In terms of supply, of the 61 facilities providing obstetrics and neonatology health and nursing services, the majority (63.9%) are in the SNA, with the highest concentration among non-SNA facilities also highlighted (72.7 ). %) in the Northern region.

Of the total 75,468 births performed, 80.5% took place in social media institutions, 43.0% in Lisbon and the Tagus valley and 34.2% in the north of the country, while at the opposite pole is Alentejo, to the share which accounts for only 3.2% of all births in 2021.

ERS adds that the published monitoring is part of a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis it is developing in the field of obstetrics, covering access to maternal and fetal care and emergency obstetric care services at SNS.