Background: Caesarean section (C-section) delivery is a serious maternal health concern in the long run. Notedly, there is a lack of studies dealing with understanding the ways and reasons of C-section deliveries becoming a public health issue in today’s time in India and the measures to reduce the unnecessary caesarean sections. We have conducted this study to study the changes in the state-wise prevalence of C-section deliveries in India and understand C-section delivery’s socioeconomic and biomedical predictors. Materials and Methods: The study uses data from the fourth and fifth rounds of the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS). The per cent differences in the C-section deliveries from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5 across the states were measured through relative changes. The association between the C-section delivery and socioeconomic and biomedical factors were assessed using multiple logistic regression. Results: This study revealed that the C-section deliveries are higher in the southern states than in the other parts of India. Literacy plays a vital role in C-section deliveries. The probabilities of C-section deliveries are more in 30–40 and 40 + years. The women belonging to the median wealth index category were more likely (OR–CI, 1.62 [1.55–1.66]) to undergo the C-section followed by the women from wealthy households (OR–CI, 1.46 [1.41–1.52]). Conclusion: The Government’s health policymakers should take the initiative to reduce the C-section section delivery by means of building maternal health literacy and awareness among women and the community so that its future implications can be minimised. It is crucial to formulate a mandate and implement it in the states where C-sections are too high through community health workers and primary care providers.

Background: The simultaneous occurrence of health-compromising behaviors can accentuate the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to examine the existence and patterns of clustering of four NCD risk behaviors among adolescents and its association with social position. In addition, socioeconomic inequalities in the occurrence of clustering of NCD risk behaviors were also assessed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1218 adolescents (14–19 years old) in the city of New Delhi, India. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess health-compromising behaviors (tobacco and alcohol use, fruit/vegetable intake, and physical inactivity). Clustering was assessed using pairwise correlations, counts of clustering of health-compromising behaviors, comparison of observed/expected ratios, and hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to test the associations of clustering with social position (education and wealth). The relative and slope indices of inequalities in the presence of clustering of behaviors according to education and wealth were estimated. Results: Three major clusters of health behaviors emerged: (a) physical inactivity + lower fruit and vegetable intake, (b) tobacco + alcohol use, and (c) lower fruit and vegetable intake + tobacco + alcohol use. Pronounced clustering of health-compromising behaviors was observed with lower educational attainment and wealth. Conclusion: The presence of clustering of health-compromising behaviors was considerably higher among adolescents with lower educational attainment and wealth. The area of residence has an important influence on socioeconomic inequalities in clustering of NCD risk factors.

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Background: This study focuses on the current scenario of caesarean section delivery in India and its states. Study shows an association between caesarean section and other related variables like institutional delivery and women literacy.Methods: Study uses data of 3rd and 4th rounds of National Family Health Surveys (NFHS 3 & 4, 2005(NFHS 3 & 4, -06, 2015. Spatial analyses have been done to know the cluster of C-section deliveries in different states of India.Results: This study shows that C-section deliveries are very high in southern states than other parts of India. Correlates between caesarean section and women who have completed 10 years of their schooling reveal that higher the literacy level in the states, higher the C-section deliveries. So, literacy plays a very prominent role in C-section deliveries. Main cause of the high C-section deliveries is increasing institutional deliveries and women literacy across some of the states of India. Conclusion:It is concluded from the study that C-section deliveries have increased rapidly over a period of ten years. Caesarean section deliveries are very high in urban areas than rural areas. This is because of awareness and accessibility in Urban areas. Lifestyle also plays a very important role in C-section delivery.

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