Study: C-sections more likely for black women

Editor's Note

Research shows black women are 25% more likely to undergo cesarean sections (C-sections) than white women, even when presenting similar medical histories, The New York Times reported September 10.

The article focuses on a study analyzing nearly one million births across 68 New Jersey hospitals. Conducted between 2008 and 2017, the research highlights how racial bias and financial incentives may contribute to these unnecessary surgeries. The study found that C-sections for Black women were more likely when hospitals had unscheduled operating room availability, suggesting economic factors might influence the decision. The disparity is said to be especially pronounced among healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, for which Black women are more than twice as likely to receive a C-section.

Although C-sections can be lifesaving, they also carry increased risks for complications, such as ruptured surgical wounds, longer recovery times, and challenges with breastfeeding. According to the article, C-sections also are more expensive, with private insurers typically paying $17,000 for a C-section compared to $11,500 for a vaginal birth.

Sources quoted in the article say the study raises concerns about how unconscious biases may affect physicians’ decision-making, with Black women potentially receiving less consideration when voicing concerns about their care. While physicians may be reacting to well-documented racial disparities in birth outcomes, the overuse of C-sections may be exacerbating other healthcare inequities.