Quality-Improvement Strategies for Safe Reduction of Primary Cesarean Birth: ACOG Committee Statement No. 17.

Abstract

The nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) cesarean birth rate is a metric that may be used to evaluate obstetric care and compare performance across similar hospitals and regions. Safe reduction of primary cesarean birth prevents the need for future cesarean births and associated maternal morbidity risk. Quality-improvement methodologies such as optimizing culture of care; practice environment; data collection and monitoring, including monitoring of data by race and ethnicity; and proactive management and planning for known and unanticipated drivers of cesarean birth may safely reduce NTSV cesarean birth rates. Obstetrician-gynecologists should engage with patients in informed decision making, informed consent, and birth preference conversations, particularly related to induction of labor and cesarean birth, to support equitable and respectful obstetric care and outcomes related to NTSV cesarean birth.