[1] WHO. Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2018. Available from: https://www. who.int/nutgrowthdb/2018-jmebrochure

[2] Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, Bhutta ZA, Christian P, De Onis M, et al. Maternal and Child Undernutrition and Overweight in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries. Lancet 2013;382:427-51. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60937-x

[3] Liu L, Johnson HL, Cousens S, Perin J, Scott S, Lawn JE, et al. Global, Regional, and National Causes of Child Mortality: An Updated Systematic Analysis for 2010 with Time Trends Since 2000. Lancet 2012;379:2151-61. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60560-1

[4] Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L, Strupp B, et al. Developmental Potential in the First 5 Years for Children in Developing Countries. Lancet 2007;369:60-70. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(07)60032-4

[5] Chen H, Tan D. Cesarean Section or Natural Childbirth? Cesarean Birth May Damage Your Health. Front Psychol 2019;10:351. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00351

[6] Moore ER. Early Skin‐To‐Skin Contact for Mothers and their Healthy Newborn Infants. J Obstetr Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2013;42:S86. doi: 10.1111/1552-6909.12177

[7] Zanardo V, Pigozzo A, Wainer G, Marchesoni D, Gasparoni A, Di Fabio S, et al. Early Lactation Failure and Formula Adoption after Elective Caesarean Delivery: Cohort Study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2012;98:F37-41. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301218

[8] Pérez-Ríos N, Ramos-Valencia G, Ortiz AP. Cesarean Delivery as a Barrier for Breastfeeding Initiation: The Puerto Rican Experience. J Hum Lact 2008;24:293-302. doi: 10.1177/0890334408316078

[9] Radha K, Devi GP, Manjula RV, Chandrasekharan PA. Study on Rising Trends of Caesarean Section (c-section): A Bio-Sociological Effect. IOSR J Dent Med Sci 2015;14:10-3. doi: 10.9790/0853-14821013

[10] Khanal V, Karkee R, Lee AH, Binns CW. Adverse Obstetric Symptoms and Rural-Urban Difference in Cesarean Delivery in Rupandehi District, Western Nepal: A Cohort Study. Reprod Health 2016;13:17. doi: 10.1186/s12978-016-0128-x

[11] Singh P, Hashmi G, Swain PK. High Prevalence of Cesarean Section Births in Private Sector Health Facilities-Analysis of District Level Household Survey-4 (DLHS-4) of India. BMC Public Health 2018;18:613. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5533-3

[12] World Health Organization. Appropriate Technology for Birth. Lancet 1985;2:436-7.

[13] World Health Organization. Joint InterregionalConference on Appropriate Technology for Birth, Fortaleza, Brazil, 22-26 April 1985: Summary Report.

[14] Dumont A, De Bernis L, Bouvier-Olle MH, Bréart G, MOMA Study Group. Caesarean Section rate for Maternal Indication in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Lancet 2001;358:1328-33. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(01)06414-5

[15] Althabe F, Sosa C, Belizán JM, Gibbons L, Jacquerioz F, Bergel E. Cesarean Section Rates and Maternal and Neonatal mortality in Low-, Medium-, and High-Income Countries: An Ecological Study. Birth 2006;33:270-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536x.2006.00118.x

[16] Betrán AP, Merialdi M, Lauer JA, Bing-Shun W, Thomas J, Van Look P, et al. Rates of Caesarean Section: Analysis of Global, Regional and National Estimates. Paediatr Perinatal Epidemiol 2007;21:98-113. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2007.00786.x

[17] Lauer JA, Betrán AP, Merialdi M, Wojdyla D. Determinants of Caesarean Section Rates in Developed Countries: Supply, Demand and Opportunities for Control. World Health Rep 2010; 29:1-22.

[18] Maine D, Wardlaw TM, Ward VM, McCarthy J, Birnbaum A, Akalin MZ, et al. Guidelines for Monitoring the Availability and Use of Obstetric Services. 2nd ed. United States: United Nations Children’s Fund; 1997. Available from: https://iihsdgn.weebly.com/ uploads/8/0/2/4/8024844/maternal_mortality_finalgui. pdf [Last accessed on 1997 Oct 12].

[19] World Health Organization Human Reproduction Programme. WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates. Reprod Health Matters 2015;23:149-50. doi: 10.1016/j.rhm.2015.07.007

[20] Ye J, Betrán AP, Vela MG, Souza JP, Zhang J. Searching for the Optimal Rate of Medically Necessary Cesarean Delivery. Birth 2014;41:237-44. doi: 10.1111/birt.12104

[21] United Nations Children’s Fund. The State of the World’s Children 2009: Maternal and Newborn Health. United States: UNICEF; 2009.

[22] Berhan Y, Berhan A. Skilled Health Personnel Attended Delivery as a Proxy Indicator for Maternal and Perinatal Mortality: A Systematic Review. Ethiop J Health Sci 2014;24:69-80. doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v24i0.7s

[23] Black M, Bhattacharya S, Philip S, Norman JE, McLernon DJ. Planned Cesarean Delivery at Term and Adverse Outcomes in Childhood Health. JAMA 2015;314:2271-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.16176

[24] Black M, Bhattacharya S, Philip S, Norman JE, McLernon DJ. Planned Repeat Cesarean Section at Term and Adverse Childhood Health Outcomes: A RecordLinkage study. PLoS Med 2016;13:e1001973. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001973

[25] Polidano C, Zhu A, Bornstein JC. The Relation between Cesarean Birth and Child Cognitive Development. Sci Rep 2017;7:11483. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10831-y

[26] Cardwell CR, Stene LC, Joner G, Cinek O, Svensson J, Goldacre MJ, et al. Caesarean Section is Associated with an Increased Risk of Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Diabetologia 2008;51:726-35. doi: 10.1007/s00125-008-0941-z

[27] Cho CE, Norman M. Cesarean Section and Development of the Immune System in the Offspring. Am J Obstetr Gynecol 2013;208:249-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.08.009

[28] Thavagnanam S, Fleming J, Bromley A, Shields MD, Cardwell CR. A Meta‐Analysis of the Association between Caesarean Section and Childhood Asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 2007;38:629-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02780.x

[29] Li HT, Zhou YB, Liu JM. The Impact of Cesarean Section on Offspring Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Obes (Lond) 2012;37:893-9. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2012.195

[30] Taras H, Potts-Datema W. Chronic Health Conditions and Student Performance at School. J Sch Health 2005;75:255-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.tb06686.x

[31] Taras H, Potts-Datema W. Obesity and Student Performance at School. J Sch Health 2005;75:291-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.00040.x

[32] Rowe‐Murray HJ, Fisher JR. Baby Friendly Hospital Practices: Cesarean Section is a Persistent Barrier to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding. Birth 2002;29:124-31. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-536x.2002.00172.x

[33] Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Health Service (GHS), and ICF International. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, MD, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International; 2015.

[34] Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana. Results from the Demographic and Health Survey. Stud Fam Plan 2003;36:158-62.

[35] Khadem N, Khadivzadeh T. The Intelligence Quotient of School Aged Children Delivered by Cesarean Section and Vaginal Delivery. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2010;15:135-40.

[36] Tian YT. China is Not “The World’s First Cesarean Section Rate”. Beijing: Guangming Daily; 2017.

[37] Nakamura-Pereira M, Leal MD, Esteves-Pereira AP, Domingues RM, Torres JA, Dias MA, et al. Use of Robson Classification to Assess Cesarean Section Ratein Brazil: The Role of Source of Payment for Childbirth. Reprod Health 2016;13:128. doi: 10.1186/s12978-016-0228-7

[38] International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015- 2016: India. Mumbai, India: IIPS; 2017. Available from: https://rchiips.org/nfhs/nfhs4reports/India.pdf [Last accessed on 2018 Feb 12].

[39] Gebremedhin S. Trend and Socio-Demographic Differentials of Caesarean Section Rate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Analysis Based on Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys Data. Reprod Health 2014;11:14. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-11-14

[40] Wang BS, Zhou LF, Coulter D, Liang H, Zhong Y, Guo YN, et al. Effects of Caesarean Section on Maternal Health in Low Risk Nulliparous Women: A Prospective Matched Cohort Study in Shanghai, China. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2010;10:78. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-10-78

[41] Burrows LJ, Meyn LA, Weber AM. Maternal Morbidity Associated with Vaginal Versus Cesarean Delivery. Obstetr Gynecol 2004;103:907-12. doi: 10.1097/01.aog.0000124568.71597.ce

[42] Farrell SA. Cesarean Section Versus Forceps-Assisted Vaginal Birth: It’s Time to Include Pelvic Injury in the Risk-Benefit Equation. CMAJ 2002;166:337-8.

[43] Huang X, Wang ML, Jing J. The Effect of Cesarean Section on Neuropsychiatric Development in Children. Foreign Med Sci 2004;15:4-6. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5293.2004.01.002

[44] World Health Organization. WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. WHO Child Growth Standards: Based on Length/Height-for Age, Weightfor-Age, Weight-for-Age and Body Mass Index for Age-Methods and Development. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2006.

[45] Das U, Chaplot B, Azamathulla HM. The Role of Place of Delivery in Preventing Neonatal and Infant Mortality Rate in India. Geographies 2021;1:47-62. doi: 10.3390/geographies1010004

[46] Srivastava S, Chaurasia H, Singh KJ, Chaudhary P. Exploring the Spatial Patterns of Cesarean Section Delivery in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey-4. Clin Epidemiol Global Health 2020;8:414-22. doi: 10.1016/j.cegh.2019.09.012

[47] Paixao ES, Bottomley C, Pescarini JM, Wong KL, Cardim LL, Ribeiro Silva RC, et al. Associations Between Cesarean Delivery and Child Mortality: A National Record Linkage Longitudinal Study of 17.8 Million Births in Brazil. PLoS Med 2021;18:e1003791. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003791

[48] Elnakib S, Abdel-Tawab N, Orbay D, Hassanein N. Medical and Non-Medical Reasons for Cesarean Section Delivery in Egypt: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019;19:411. doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2558-2

[49] Kamal SM. Preference for Institutional Delivery and Caesarean Sections in Bangladesh. J Health Popul Nutr 2013;31:96-109. doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v31i1.14754

[50] Kamal SM. Factors Affecting Utilization of Skilled Maternity Care Services among Married Adolescents in Bangladesh. Asian Popul Stud 2009;5:153-70. doi: 10.1080/17441730902992075

[51] Caldwell JC. Education as a Factor in Mortality Decline an Examination of Nigerian Data. Popul Stud 1979;33:395. doi: 10.2307/2173888

[52] Celik Y, Hotchkiss DR. The Socio-Economic Determinants of Maternal Health Care Utilization in Turkey. Soc Sci Med 2000;50:1797-806. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(99)00418-9

[53] Dahlen HG, Tracy S, Tracy M, Bisits A, Brown C, Thornton C. Rates of Obstetric Intervention among Low-Risk Women Giving Birth in Private and Public Hospitals in NSW: A Population-Based Descriptive Study. BMJ Open 2012;2:e001723. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001723

[54] Einarsdóttir K, Haggar F, Pereira G, Leonard H, De Klerk N, Stanley FJ, et al. Role of Public and Private Funding in the Rising Caesarean Section Rate: A Cohort Study. BMJ Open 2013;3:e002789. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002789

[55] Sandall J, Tribe RM, Avery L, Mola G, Visser GH, Homer CS, et al. Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Caesarean Section on the Health of Women and Children. Lancet 2018;392:1349-57. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31930-5

[56] Betran AP, Torloni MR, Zhang J, Ye J, Mikolajczyk R, Deneux-Tharaux C, et al. What is the Optimal rate of Caesarean Section at Population Level? A Systematic Review of Ecologic Studies. Reprod Health 2015;12:57. doi: 10.1186/s12978-015-0043-6

[57] Boerma T, Ronsmans C, Melesse DY, Barros AJ, Barros FC, Juan L, et al. Global Epidemiology of Use of and Disparities in Caesarean Sections. Lancet 2018;392:1341-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31928-7

[58] Bailey P, Paxton A, Lobis S, Fry D. The Availability of Life-Saving Obstetric Services in Developing Countries: An In-Depth Look at the Signal Functions for Emergency Obstetric Care. Int J Gynaecol Obstetr 2006;93:285-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2006.01.028

[59] Gabrysch S, Cousens S, Cox J, Campbell OM. The Influence of Distance and Level of Care On DeliveryPlace in Rural Zambia: A Study of Linked National Data in a Geographic Information System. PLoS Med 2011;8:e1000394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000394

[60] Saaka M, Hammond AY. Caesarean Section Delivery and Risk of Poor Childhood Growth. J Nutr Metab 2020;2020:1-12. doi: 10.1155/2020/6432754

[61] Collins PY, Patel V, Joestl SS, March D, Insel TR, Daar AS, et al. Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health. Nature 2011;475:27-30. doi: 10.1038/475027a

[62] Xiaojie Z. Study on the Relationship between Different Types of Delivery and Sensory Integrative Dysfunction in Children; 2008. Available from: https://en.cnki. com.cn/article_en/cjfdtotal-jnyy200803004.htm [Last accessed on 2008 Sep 15].

[63] Ling K. The Long-Term Effect of Delivery Modes on Physical and Mental Health of Children. Mater Child Health Care China; 2009. Available from: https://en.cnki. com.cn/article_en/cjfdtotal-zfyb200915023.htm [Last accessed on 2009 Mar 20].

[64] Tian XB. Effect of Cesarean Section on School Children’s Intelligence, Attention and Sensory Integration Function. Master’s Thesis. Beijing: China Medical University; 2009.

[65] Yuan HM, Wei YF, Yu XH. Impact of Delivery Mode on Children’s Sensory Integration Ability. ZheJiang J Prev Capacity 2009;21:12-13. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-0931.2009.06.005 

[66] Evans KC, Evans RG, Royal R, Esterman AJ, James SL. Effect of Caesarean Section on Breast Milk Transfer to the Normal Term Newborn Over the First Week of Life. Arch Dis Childhood Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F380-2. doi: 10.1136/fn.88.5.f380

[67] Scott JA, Binns CW, Oddy WH. Predictors of Delayed Onset of Lactation. Matern Child Nutr 2007;3:186-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00096.x

[68] Anwar I, Nababan HY, Mostari S, Rahman A, Khan JA. Trends and Inequities in Use of Maternal Health Care Services in Bangladesh, 1991-2011. PLoS One 2015;10:e0120309. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120309

[69] Ronsmans C, Holtz S, Stanton C. Socioeconomic Differentials in Caesarean Rates in Developing Countries: A Retrospective Analysis. Lancet 2006;368:1516-23. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(06)69639-6

[70] Yaya S, Uthman OA, Amouzou A, Bishwajit G. Disparities in Caesarean Section Prevalence and Determinants Across Sub-Saharan Africa Countries. Glob Health Res Policy 2018;3:19. doi: 10.1186/s41256-018-0074-y

[71] Sufang G, Padmadas SS, Fengmin Z, Brown JJ, Stones RW. Delivery Settings and Caesarean Section Rates in China. Bulletin of the World Health Organ 2007;85:755-62. doi: 10.2471/blt.06.035808