Socio-Ethical Issues Surrounding Caesarean Section Births in Africa
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Date
2018
Authors
Yitambe, Andre
Kibaara, Rucha Kenneth
Warutere, Peterson
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Granthaalayah Publications and Printers
Abstract
In the last decade, a number of studies have questioned the practice of caesarean section birth in
obstetrical practices in Africa. Medical sociologists and anthropologists have considered caesarean
section as a medicalization of social events. We are not assuming that it is true of false. The
transformation of social events into medical indications rises ethical issues in the provision of
healthcare in Africa. In this paper, we especially used the case of caesarean section birth to explore
the transformation of social events into medical indications in Africa. Caesarean sections by choice
interrogates the obstetrical practices. This paper examines the socio-ethical issues in caesarean
section in Africa. We considered some underlying factors: medicalization of the society, informed
consent, biotechnology, demand inducement, consumer-inducement demand and the health
market-driven economy. This was desk-based study. A review of secondary data and literatures
relative to caesarean section births in Africa were used for discussion. Findings from literatures
revealed that a number of considerations have to be taken such as: demand inducement and
information asymmetry, defensive and corporate medicine, medical power, consumer induced
demand and health market driven economy. The findings informed health regulators on demand
and supply sides of caesarean sections.
Description
Article
Keywords
Caesarean Section, Vaginal Delivery, Medicalization, Society, Ethics, Medical Indications, Health, Economy
Citation
Andre Yitambe, Rucha Kenneth Kibaara, and Peterson Warutere. (2018). “SOCIO-ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING CAESAREAN SECTION BIRTHS IN AFRICA.” International Journal of Research - Granthaalayah, 6(11), 272-282. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v6.i11.2018.1128.