TREND IN CESAREAN SECTION RATES IN PARANÁ AND IMPACTS OF THE REPEAL OF THE ELECTIVE CESAREAN LAW

Abstract

This article aimed to assess the monthly trend in the proportion of cesarean deliveries in Paraná (DATASUS, 2014–2025) and potential changes associated with the enactment, in January 2020, of a state rule authorizing elective cesarean delivery upon request (State Law No. 20,127/2020) and its subsequent non-applicability from June 2024 onward, following a decision by the Paraná Court of Justice declaring unconstitutional the corresponding provisions incorporated into the Paraná State Women’s Code (State Law No. 21,926/2024). An interrupted time series approach was used with Poisson regression and an offset for the number of births. An immediate increase and an upward trend change were observed after Jan/2020, as well as an immediate reduction after Jun/2024, with no evidence of a subsequent trend change. These findings suggest an association between regulatory changes and variations in the proportion of cesarean deliveries at the population level.