The last NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics--collected by US Public
Health Service, USDHHS)  c/Sect rate I saw was 23%, which is slightly down
from the higher 24.5% it had it at its apex.  These rates are exceptionally
variable by geography, by day of the week (Fridays are highest), by practice
area, by insurance status (privately insured are higher), by hospital
affiliation of the MD, by practitioner of delivery, etc.  Several years
back, I conducted a USPublic Health Service Grant pilot study entitled THE
PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF C/SECTIONS AND SUBSEQUENT CHILDBIRTH OUTCOMES.  I
have yet to publish the mounds of data and draft articles, but did present
some of them at the Association of Health Services Research and Amer Public
Health Association Annual meetings.

'Hope this helps!~
--Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html