For many years, discussions around the ??deal cesarean rate??tended to refer to a 1985 World Health Organization (WHO) consensus statement?that recommended a population-based cesarean rate between 10% to 15% to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes. Last week, a study was published in JAMA?that used data from all WHO member countries and found an inverse association between cesarean rates and maternal and infant mortality for cesarean rates up to 19%. That is, on average, higher cesarean rates were associated with lower maternal and infant mortality until cesarean rates reached 19%, after which point higher cesarean rates were not associated with lower maternal and infant mortality rates. The strongest association was seen in countries with cesarean rates up to 7%, and a more modest association characterized countries with cesarean rates between 8% and 19%. Read More at www.ajmc.com