RESULTS
Our study population consisted of 143,308 women with one previous
caesarean section who gave birth to a singleton in cephalic presentation
at term over the 20-year study period. Baseline characteristics are
shown in Table 1 and compare women with a planned caesarean section to
those with an intended VBAC.
The caesarean section rate (both planned and unplanned) among women with
one previous caesarean section was 52.6% (n= 75,357, 2000-2019) and
increased by 18.5% in 20 years, from 45.1% in 2000 to 63.6% in 2019.
Women intended VBAC in 68.8% (n= 98,651, 2000-2019). Up to 2008 the
proportion of women intending VBAC was relatively stable, but it
decreased markedly from 2009 onwards (Figure 1). An increasing
proportion of women gave birth by planned caesarean section in the same
time frame. The average VBAC success rate was 68.9% (n= 67,951,
2000-2019). This rate dropped from 71.0% in 2000 to 65.3% in 2019.
Adverse perinatal outcomes were higher in women intending VBAC compared
to those with a planned caesarean section (Table 1 and Figure 3).
However, perinatal mortality decreased between 2000 and 2008, but
stabilized from 2009 onwards (Figure 2).