By Tehelka Web Desk
Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the regions with the highest rate of Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries in the country, according to the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6).
The survey shows that 51 per cent of births in J&K during 2023-24 were delivered through C-sections, marking a significant increase from 41.7 per cent recorded in NFHS-5 (2019-21). The figure is nearly double the national average of 27.2 per cent.
The survey also highlights that J&K continues to maintain one of the highest institutional delivery rates in India, with 93.6 per cent of births taking place in healthcare facilities, compared to the national average of 90.6 per cent.
A majority of these deliveries occurred in public hospitals, which accounted for over 80 per cent of institutional births, while private hospitals handled around 19.7 per cent.
Nationally, C-section rates are generally higher in private hospitals, where 54.1 per cent of births are surgical deliveries, compared to 16.9 per cent in public hospitals. However, J&K presents a different trend, with 48.6 per cent of deliveries in public hospitals being conducted through C-sections.
Data from Srinagar’s Lal Ded Hospital, the Valley’s largest maternity hospital, reflects the broader pattern. Between April 2025 and March 2026, the hospital recorded 20,520 deliveries, of which 14,507 were C-sections and 6,013 were normal deliveries. This means nearly 71 per cent of births at the hospital were conducted surgically.
Health experts note that tertiary care facilities such as Lal Ded Hospital often receive complicated pregnancies, high-risk referrals, emergency obstetric cases and women requiring repeat C-sections, which contributes to higher surgical delivery rates.
The National Sample Survey (NSS), released recently by the National Statistical Office (NSO), also indicates that childbirth continues to impose substantial financial costs on families. The average expenditure per childbirth in a government hospital in J&K stands at Rs 3,867, compared to the national average of Rs 2,299. In private hospitals, the average cost rises to Rs 42,746 in J&K, higher than the national average of Rs 37,630.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that population-level C-section rates above 10-15 per cent do not necessarily result in improved maternal or neonatal outcomes.
Medical experts caution that while C-sections have played a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant mortality, unnecessary surgical deliveries may increase the risk of complications such as infections, excessive bleeding, anaesthesia-related problems and longer recovery periods. Women who undergo a C-section are also more likely to require repeat surgical deliveries in future pregnancies and may face additional reproductive health complications.
