Caesarean section provision and capacity in health facilities in Tanzania

Abstract

The national caesarean rate in Tanzania increased from 2% in 1996 to 6% in 2015-16 (3 x increases). Over the same period, the absolute number of caesareans performed increased from 26,000/year to 118,000/year (5x increase). • The majority of caesareans in Tanzania in 2014-15 were performed in public hospitals (65%) and faith- based organization (FBO) hospitals (26%). Private facilities and health centres of all sectors together perform fewer than 10% of caesareans (Figure 1). • The caesarean increase was primarily due to a doubling of the caesarean volume in public hospitals, from an average of 17 caesareans per month in 2006 to 35 in 2014-15. The estimated number of health facilities performing caesareans in Tanzania increased only slightly, from 278 in 2006 to 318 in 2014-15.