In this Series paper, we describe the frequency of, trends in, determinants of, and
inequalities in caesarean section (CS) use, globally, regionally, and in selected countries …

Optimising the use of caesarean section (CS) is of global concern. Underuse leads to
maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Conversely, overuse of CS has not shown …

Background The caesarean section (CS) rate continues to increase across high-income,
middle-income and low-income countries. We present current global and regional CS rates …

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, immune-mediated disease characterised by the destruction of
insulin-producing cells. Standardised registry data show that type 1 diabetes incidence has …

Background Cesarean birth rates continue to rise worldwide with recent (2016) reported
rates of 24.5% in Western Europe, 32% in North America, and 41% in South America. The …

The early-life microbiome appears to be affected by mode of delivery, but this effect may
depend on intrapartum antibiotic exposure. Here, we assess the effect of delivery mode on …

Obesity in women of reproductive age is increasing in prevelance worldwide. Obesity
reduces fertility and increases time taken to conceive, and obesity-related comorbidities …

On the continuum of maternal health care, two extreme situations exist: too little, too late
(TLTL) and too much, too soon (TMTS). TLTL describes care with inadequate resources …

Background Universal and timely access to a caesarean section is a key requirement for
safe childbirth. We identified the burden of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity …

Humans share a core intestinal microbiome and yet human microbiome differs by genes,
species, enterotypes (ecology), and gene count (microbial diversity). Achievement of …