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ESTIMATING THE EFFECT OF CESAREAN SECTION RATE ON HEALTH OUTCOME

Evidence from Swedish Hospital Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1999

Ingemar Eckerlund  and
Ulf-G. Gerdtham
Ingemar Eckerlund
Affiliation:
Stockholm School of Economics and The National Board of Health and Welfare
Ulf-G. Gerdtham
Affiliation:
Stockholm School of Economics
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Abstract

This paper tests the null hypothesis of a zero effect of cesarean section rate on health outcome against the alternative of a positive effect. Using data from 59 hospitals in Sweden from 1988–92, we specify two separate linear regression models for health outcome, one with perinatal mortality, and the other with rate of asphyxia, as dependent variable. We estimate the models by single-year cross-section regressions and as pooled data systems. The null hypothesis cannot be rejected, i.e., we do not find any significant positive effect of cesarean section rate on health outcome. Thus, we conclude that an increase in cesarean section rate does not imply lower perinatal mortality or lower rate of asphyxia. This in turn indicates that the minimum cesarean section rate is optimal.

Keywords

Cesarean SectionHealth OutcomeRegression AnalysisEconomic Consequences
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 123 - 135
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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