§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of (a) direct maternal deaths, (b) indirect maternal deaths and (c) associated maternal deaths in England and Wales following caesarian section in each year since 1979 for which figures are available; what is his estimate of the total number of women delivered by caesarian section in each year; and what is the estimated fatality rate per 1,000 caesarian sections.
387W
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation in the form requested is not at present available. The table shows the estimated number of caesarean sections for England and Wales for 1979–83.
The figures for 1982 and 1983 are not comparable with the earlier years because they have been estimated on a different basis. Part of the apparent increase in the numbers of caesarean sections in 1982 and 1983 is probably due to an underestimation of the numbers of caesarean sections in the earlier years.
England and Wales *1979 49,830 *1980 54,600 *1981 53,420 †1982 61,270 †1983 61,760 * Estimated numbers derived from Maternity hospital inpatient inquiry † Estimated numbers derived from Maternity HIPE, and adjusted using birth registration data.