Factors related to the increasing cesarean section rates for cephalopelvic disproportion.

At the Highland Park Hospital the increase in cesarean section rates has paralleled the national increase. Data from cesarean deliveries performed for cephalopelvic disproportion (a leading reason for cesarean section) in 1969 to 1972 (group 1) and 1979 to 1982 (group 2) were evaluated to determine maternal, fetal, and delivery factors that might be related to the increase in the rates. The data suggested that the more frequent diagnosis of cephalopelvic disproportion and the increased size of the group 2 infants were the primary reasons for the increase in cesarean section rate. This increased rate was paralleled by a decline in forceps-assisted delivery and in perinatal mortality rates.