OBJECTIVES : The growing tendency of caesarean section births has become a highly debated health political topic. Numerous studies try to find causes and assess geographical differences. The aim of our study is to map the inequalities of caesarean section births by progressivity levels.

METHODS : Data were derived from the PULVITA Healthcare Data Warehouse Hospital Indicator Query program (e-KIL) operated by the Hungarian National Healthcare Services Center. Mean age of women was retrieved from the inpatient database. The following ICPM codes were assessed: 57400 – caesarean section – corporal, longitudinal; 57410 – caesarean section – cervical, transverse; 57420 – caesarean section – extraperitoneal; 57421 – caesarean section – with sterilization.

RESULTS : There were 33,860 cases (37.6%, mean age 30.6 years) in Hungary, 2014. Number of cases in declining order are county hospitals (11,319; 37.7%), city hospitals (9,246; 32.7%), clinics (6,514; 45.8%), capital city hospitals (5,396; 35.7%) and national institutes (1,385; 54.7%). Mean age was 30.4 in county hospitals, 30.0 in city hospitals, 31.2 in clinics, 31.2 in capital city hospitals and 31.5 in national institutes in 2014. There were 36,322 cases (41.6%, mean age 30.9 years) in Hungary, 2018. Number of cases in declining order are county hospitals (13,463; 41.1%), city hospitals (9,029; 37.5%), clinics (7,021; 48.8%), capital city hospitals (5,247; 39.4%) and national institutes (1,562; 57.1%). Mean age was 30.8 in county hospitals, 30.1 in city hospitals, 31.7 in clinics, 31.6 in capital city hospitals and 32.3 in national institutes in 2018. 176,913 caesarean section cases were registered in Hungary between 2014-2018. Number of cases rose by +3.4% in county hospitals, +4.8%in city hospitals, +3.0% in clinics, +3.6% in capital city hospitals, +2.4% in national institutes.

CONCLUSIONS : Proportion of caesarean section births increased by +4.0% between 2014 and 2018. Major inequalities were found between the levels of progressivity.