Section B examines selected obstetrical rates. Obstetrical practice includes procedures performed during the delivery of babies, including C-sections, which involve surgery, and VBACs, which are normal deliveries after a previous C-section. A lower C-section rate is generally preferred, as fewer mothers are exposed to surgical procedures that may put them at higher risk for complications. A higher VBAC rate is generally preferred because fewer mothers are exposed to the complications that may be associated with surgery.

Three levels of obstetrical care classify the hospitals reporting in this section:

• Level 1 hospitals have all the capabilities for normal births and births with minor complications.
• Level 2 hospitals have additional equipment and staff to deal with more complicated deliveries.
• Level 3 hospitals have equipment and staff to handle very complicated cases requiring intensive care, such as premature births.

The data in this section are not severity adjusted because there currently is no adequate system to account for all factors that impact C-section and VBAC rates. Therefore, these rates are simply compared to the unadjusted statewide averages.

Section B - Selected Obstetrical Rates

• Public Health Data
• Selected Obstetrical Rates
• Four-Year Trends