Geographic Variation in Cesarean Sections in the United States: Trends, Correlates, and Other Interesting Facts

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Robinson, Sarah; Royer, Heather; Silver, David
• 署名单位: Claremont Colleges; Claremont Graduate University; Claremont McKenna College; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara; National Bureau of Economic Research; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/728804
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: S219-S259
• 关键词: health-care; delivery; PRODUCTIVITY; determinants; GROWTH; birth

摘要

Analyzing data spanning three decades covering the near universe of births, we study county-level differences in C-section rates among first-time mothers of singleton births. Our research reveals persistent geographic variation in C-section rates for both low- and high-risk groups. Counties with elevated C-section rates consistently perform more C-sections across mothers at all levels of appropriateness for the procedure. These elevated rates of C-section in counties with high C-section rates are associated with reduced maternal and infant morbidity. We also find that C-section decisions are less responsive to underlying risks for Black mothers relative to white mothers, suggesting potential welfare-reducing disparities.