National trends in caesarean section use and maternal and infant mortality in Uzbekistan, 1995-2023

caesarean section; maternal mortality; infant mortality; early neonatal mortality; obstetric epidemiology; Uzbekistan.

1Suyarkulovа Madkhiya Erkinovna, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor, Head of the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology Surgery, Fergana
Medical Institute of Public Health, Postal code:
150100, Fergana, Republic of Uzbekistan,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1069476X, E-mail: [email protected]

2Babazhanova Shakhida associate professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Pediatric Gynecology, Tashkent State Medical
University, University address: 100109,
Tashkent city, Farabiy st., 2,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6532-5760
[email protected]

3Muxlisaxon Oblayorova, PhD Researcher,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Fergana Institute of Public Health and Medical
Sciences, University address: 2A, Yangi Turon
Street, Fergana city, Uzbekistan,
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-19786982
Email: [email protected]

4Ne'matova Marjona Zikrillaevna- Assistant,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No.
1, Bukhara State Medical Institute named after
Abu Ali ibn Sino, Bukhara, Uzbekistan,
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4105-1064,
E-mail:[email protected]

5Abbasov Khojimukhammad Khabibullaevich,
assistant of the Department of Pediatric Surgery
No. 1 of Samarkand State Medical University,
140035, Samarkand city, Uzbekistan, A. Temur
street, 18 tel.+998901911199, ORCID: 00090004-2135-7647,
E-mail: [email protected],

Address for correspondence: Suyarkulovа
Madkhiya Erkinovna, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Head of the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology Surgery, Fergana
Medical Institute of Public Health, Postal code:
150100, Fergana, Republic of Uzbekistan,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1069476X,
E-mail: [email protected]

Received-12-06-2026
Revised-25-07-2026
Accepted-26-07-20.26

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34(7S), 1291–1296

National trends in caesarean section use and maternal and infant mortality in Uzbekistan, 1995-2023

Caesarean section (CS) is a life-saving intervention when medically indicated, but sustained population-level increases raise concerns about overuse and the balance of benefit and harm. This retrospective ecological time-trend study described changes in CS use and maternal and infant mortality in Uzbekistan using aggregated maternity-facility reports and publicly available national statistics for 1995–2023. The reported national CS rate increased from 3.5% in 1995 to 15.5% in 2017 and 26.4% in 2023. A previous uterine scar was the leading reported indication in 2023 (42.2%), followed by cephalopelvic disproportion (11.2%) and pre-eclampsia (11.1%). The maternal mortality ratio declined from 32 per 100,000 live births in 1995 to 21 in 2010 and 14.05 in 2023. Infant mortality declined from 26.6 per 1,000 live births in 1995 to 11.0 in 2010, 9.3 in 2019, and 8.5 in 2023. Early neonatal mortality decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 live births in 1995 to 4.1 in 2012 and subsequently remained approximately 4.5 per 1,000 over the last decade. The largest mortality improvements coincided with expansion of CS access to approximately 10– 11%, whereas later increases were accompanied by smaller incremental gains. Because the analysis is ecological and uses aggregated reporting streams, causal thresholds cannot be inferred. Standardized denominators, indication-specific audits, Robson classification, and monitoring of morbidity as well as mortality are needed to optimize CS use in Uzbekistan.

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