Turkey's C‑section surge reflects systemic incentives, training gaps, and cultural pressures, not just individual doctor choices
Original framing: “Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate” — South China Morning Post
Evidence from WHO and peer‑reviewed studies links unnecessary C‑sections to increased maternal morbidity, neonatal respiratory complications, and higher health system costs. Robust audit tools, such as the Robson classification, can identify non‑clinical drivers of surgical births. Scientific consensus also supports the safety and cost‑effectiveness of midwife‑led care for low‑risk pregnancies.
Turkey’s soaring C‑section rate is rooted in a convergence of financial incentives, policy reforms, and cultural narratives that privilege surgical efficiency over holistic childbirth.
Historical erasure of Ottoman midwives, coupled with neoliberal hospital financing, has marginalized rural, low‑income, and refugee women while reinforcing a state‑driven image of natural motherhood that paradoxically relies on punitive regulation. Cross‑cultural evidence shows that rebalancing reimbursement, revitalising community birthing centers, and integrating traditional knowledge can simultaneously reduce costs, improve health outcomes, and restore agency to birthing women. Implementing these systemic solutions requires coordinated action from the Ministry of Health, professional bodies, civil society, and international partners, guided by robust scientific monitoring and inclusive storytelling.