Changing trends in cesarean section.

There have been considerable changes in obstetric practice in the past 5 years, with corresponding changes in the application of ceasarean section to obstetric complications. In this paper, 4,003 cesarean sections done in a public hospital during four time periods dating back to 1948 are compared, and the changing applications of section are discussed. Breech presentation, fetal distress, and dystocia have contributed substantially to the increasing use of abdominal delivery.