“In SUS establishments, the percentage of caesarean sections in the total number of births corresponded to 31.9% (41,676), contrasting with the reality of private and social establishments, in which the percentage of caesarean sections reached 64.8% of births carried out in these establishments (19,254)” in 2022 and 2023, says the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS).

According to the monitoring of access and activity of the 58 obstetrics and neonatology health providers, in these two years 130,489 births were carried out in SUS establishments and 29,723 in non-public units, totalling 160,212, 38% by caesarean section (60,930).

Regarding the classification of caesarean sections according to urgency, – scheduled, urgent or emergent –, more urgent caesarean were performed, with emergent sections being the least frequent, the ERS also indicates.

“Nevertheless, the most representative type of caesarean section in private and social establishments was the scheduled caesarean section (54.3%), while in SNS establishments, urgent caesarean sections were more frequent (65.2%)”, revealed data from the regulator.

Between 2022 and 2023, the number of births in mainland Portugal increased by 2.6%, due to growth recorded in the Algarve (8.2%), in the Center (5.4%), in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (3.5 %) and in Alentejo (1.8%), with a decrease recorded in the North region.

ERS highlights that, in the two years in question, in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, on average, more births were carried out in private and social establishments when compared to the remaining regions of the country.

In these two years, 161,559 births occurred, with the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions presenting the highest number (43.9%) and Alentejo the lowest (3.0%).

In relation to fetal and neonatal deaths (up to 28 days of life), there were 738 (312 in 2022 and 426 in 2023), the ERS also indicates, adding that the ratio of deaths per birth was 0.46% in mainland Portugal, having been higher in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (0.52%) and in the North (0.42%).

In 2023, in mainland Portugal, 58 establishments provided medical and nursing care in obstetrics and neonatology (also called birth centers), mainly from the NHS (67.2%).

Of the establishments not integrated into the SUS, there was a greater concentration in the North region (73.7%).