Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh: A 16-year-old girl lost her life after giving birth to a child through a caesarean (C-section) surgery in Chittoor on Tuesday, February 11.
As per a report by News18, the police reported that the doctors at the Chittoor government hospital performed the C-section surgery on the pregnant minor. After her condition worsened, they shifted her to the Ruia Hospital in Tirupati.
For the unversed, a C-section is a surgical procedure used to deliver babies through an incision in the mother’s abdomen. While medically necessary cases can be lifesaving, unnecessary procedures may lead to health risks, increased costs, and pressure on limited public health resources.
What Happened To The Minor?
The incident came to light when teachers at the ZP High School noticed the girl's pregnancy and informed her parents about it. When she experienced complications at home, her family rushed her to a government hospital in Chittoor.
As per the report, the girl's parents stated that they had been unaware of her pregnancy, attributing it to her being overweight. The minor's father revealed that they only discovered her condition when she was taken to the hospital for a medical check-up.
Demanding justice for his daughter, he urged authorities to file a case under the POCSO Act against the suspects.
Rise of C-Section Surgeries In India
Researchers at IIT Madras observed a significant rise in C-section deliveries across India between 2016 and 2021. The study, conducted by scholars from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, was published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
It reported that high-risk fertility factors, such as maternal age under 18 or over 34, short birth intervals, or having multiple previous births, may sometimes justify C-sections.
As per the study, the key factor influencing C-section rates was the place of delivery, with private hospitals performing more procedures regardless of medical necessity.
Nationally, C-sections rose from 17.2% to 21.5% (2016-2021), with private sector rates nearing 50%. Educated, urban women, those aged 35-49, and overweight women were more likely to have C-sections. Non-clinical factors, including socio-economic status, patient preference, and physician caution, contributed to this rise.
