Cyprus health ministry addresses high cesarean section rates

The Cyprus Ministry of Health has announced a new campaign to promote natural childbirth and reduce the national rate of cesarean sections. Recent data from 2024 reveals that cesarean sections accounted for 61.8 percent of all births in the country, while preterm births represented 13 percent of the total.

Running throughout November, the awareness campaign titled "Maternity Days: Care from the Start" aims to provide comprehensive information and support to pregnant women and their families. A key focus of this initiative is to highlight the benefits of vaginal delivery and to educate the broader community on maternal and child health. The ministry has set a specific target to reduce the rate of cesarean sections in first-time mothers to below 60 percent during 2026.

The campaign also incorporates observation of World Prematurity Day on November 17. By providing valid information and clinical support, health authorities seek to address these significant trends in childbirth practices within the domestic medical system.