Analysing the likelihood of caesarean birth after implementation of the two-childbirth policy in China, using the Ten Group Classification System

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the main contributor to the high Caesarean section birth rate at a regional perinatal medical centre using the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS). A total of 54,085 women were surveyed and were included in our study from 2015 to 2017 at the Women’s Hospital at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China. The Caesarean birth rate was similar among the three years; although, the new two-childbirth policy in China has been in implementation since 2016. According to the TGCS, Group 5 was the largest contributor to the overall Caesarean birth rate (40.79%), followed by Group 2 (21.36%). The Caesarean birth rate of Group 5 and Group 2 decreased significantly from 2015 to 2017 (p < .05). The proportion of Group 7 contributing to the overall Caesarean birth rate increased significantly (p < .05). Future efforts should focus on increasing vaginal birth after Caesarean in Group 5 and external cephalic version in Group 7 to decrease the overall Caesarean birth rate.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? The Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) proposed by World Health Organisation was used in some countries such as Queensland, Singapore and Japan to assess and compare Caesarean section rates. The main contributor to the high Caesarean birth rate varies in different counties. However, it is not widely used in China.

• What the results of this study add? It was the first study using the TGCS to analyse the Caesarean birth rate and the changes after implementation of the two-childbirth policy in China. It identified that Group 5 (multiparous mothers with a previous Caesarean birth in a singleton, cephalic full-term pregnancy) constituted the most important determinant of overall Caesarean birth rates, followed by Group 2 (nulliparous mothers with a singleton, cephalic full-term pregnancy undergoing an induction of labour or prelabour Caesarean birth). The contribution of Group 5 and Group 7 (multiparous women with a single breech pregnancy) to the overall Caesarean birth rate has increased significantly since the new childbirth policy was implemented.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Future efforts should focus on increasing vaginal birth after Caesarean in Group 5 and external cephalic version in Group 7 to decrease the overall Caesarean birth rate in China.

Keywords:

• Caesarean delivery
• childbirth policy
• China
• Ten Group Classification System

Disclosure statement

The authors involved in this study have no disclosures/conflicts of interest to declare.