Behind the numbers

Some districts, such as the Free State’s Xhariep district, reported no C-sections in 2015/16 because they refer the kind of complicated delivery likely to result in a caesarean section to hospitals outside the district. Because they absorb cases from surrounding areas, districts with hospitals that are able to provide more specialised care with central and tertiary facilities will have higher C-section rates.

“I felt safe with a C-section because it happened in the private sector where a gynaecologist, assisted by a GP, a nurse, an anaesthetist and a paediatrician, performed my procedure. If anything went wrong, there were more than enough qualified staff to take care of me and my baby,” Van Wyk says.

“I’m not sure I would have made this choice if I had to rely on the much less-equipped public sector, where a GP and nurse would most probably have been the only resources,” the mother of one explains.

“Besides, the public sector wouldn’t have allowed me this choice; my choice in the private sector was a luxury.”

* Not her real name

This story was produced by the M&G Centre for Health Journalism, Bhekisisa www.bhekisisa.org