Rising C-section use and the private maternal health care sector in Pakistan: evidence from the 2012–13 and 2017–18 Demographic and Health Surveys

These findings suggest that C-sections are increasingly performed for nonmedical reasons, especially in private facilities where financial incentives and weak regulation may influence decisions. Considering community misconceptions and varied attitudes toward childbirth, culturally sensitive public education is needed. Targeted workshops and media campaigns can provide women and families with clear information on the risks and long-term consequences of unnecessary C-sections.