Caesarean section births surge in Gaza, raising health concerns

Gaza City, Gaza Strip – A 24-year-old woman, Duha Abu Yousef, recently gave birth to her first child via emergency caesarean section at a hospital in Gaza City. The procedure was performed due to her severe anemia, which was exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Abu Yousef had been experiencing physical and psychological pain throughout her pregnancy, largely due to food shortages and nutritional deficiencies. She reported that she did not have access to meat, chicken, or eggs during most of her pregnancy, and even when nutritional supplements were available, they were often unavailable.

The conflict has also taken a toll on Abu Yousef’s mental health, with the recent killing of her brother and his wife by an Israeli tank shell still affecting her. Despite these challenges, she had hoped for a natural birth.

According to Dr. Fathi al-Dahdouh, head of obstetrics at Al Helou International Hospital in Gaza City, the number of caesarean sections has increased by about 2 percent since before the war. This is partly due to difficulties in travel caused by the conflict, which can lead to late arrivals at the hospital and reduced opportunities for natural births.

Dr. Ruba al-Madhoun, an obstetrician-gynaecologist working at the International Medical Corps field hospital in Gaza, notes that many pregnant women arrive in critical condition with injuries due to bombardments. These cases often require immediate surgery, including caesarean sections.

The lack of medical equipment and supplies has also contributed to the increased reliance on caesarean sections. Shortages of continuous fetal monitoring devices and labour-inducing medications have made natural births impossible in some cases.

April marks Caesarean Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the procedure and support mothers who have undergone it. However, the challenges faced by pregnant women in Gaza are unique and require specific attention.

The health system in Gaza is currently under strain due to the ongoing conflict, with a wider collapse of services affecting many aspects of healthcare.

Source: Al Jazeera