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Caesarean Sections and Indian Culture


            "Ignorance is not bliss" is what I learned from my health elective in "Obstetrics and Gynecology." It is a paradox of modern India that, while women hold powerful responsibilities in society, gender and reproductive health remains lowest in priority. Various studies speak the fact, that the whole society benefits if women are educated and empowered. From West Bengal National Census Report 2011, Urban Female Literacy Rate is 85%. But then, does that reflect knowledge to maintain good health? - 'No!'. Most women in the city are inadequately educated for their health.
             Dominance of culture, norms of religions and the patriarchal society is repeatedly paralyzing modern women to act for their health. Hence the current situation in reality is grim and beyond the hands of health professionals in Kolkata. One such example is elective Childbirth through cesarean section (CS) in private hospitals. In the general population, pregnancies are perceived to be 'diseases' that all females have at a certain point in their lifetime. For economical, time saving and various opportunistic purposes elective CSs are embraced by the society. Perhaps this is why not a single vaginal delivery (VD) I have seen during my days in the three Private Hospitals in Kolkata. From one of the patients I have seen in a GP surgery, this major operation is considered to be "quick end of the disease named pregnancy." This was shocking!.
             Now, the question is why pregnancy is not a celebration of womanhood but just a burden? This time the answer is complex. Medical fraternity accepts patients' right to choose between elective CS and VD in Kolkata. But is the choice of "Cut or Wait'' an informed one? Despite my supervisor striving to give pros and cons of CS to her patients, we could sense they were reluctant to understand the medical importance and still choose the same showing ignorance. .
             In an attempt to balance risk to benefit ratio, CS clearly has many long-term effects known to the society.


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