Mississippi Today and The Fuller Project requested low-risk C-section data from the Mississippi State Department of Health for every Labor & Delivery hospital in the state from 2014 through 2022. U.S. health agencies, regulatory bodies and the World Health Organization define births low-risk for C-sections as “NTSV” births, or nulliparous (patients with first-time deliveries), term (37-weeks or more gestation), singleton (not multiple births, such as twins), and vertex (in the head-down position).

To define NTSV C-sections, we requested both the NTSV birthing population (the number of births that meet the NTSV criteria) and the birthing method of that population. The total number of NTSV births became the denominator and the total of those who birthed by C-section became the numerator, to get the rate of low-risk C-sections per year per hospital. 

We also requested the total number of births, first-time births, repeat births, primary or first-time C-sections, and repeat C-sections for data validation and comparison. 

We analyzed each hospital’s data per year, per 5-year period and as an average to narrow down hospitals with consistently high or low NTSV C-section rates. If a hospital closed during our data time period, we removed it from our analysis. 

Knowing that variation from year to year is normal, we calculated hospitals’ averages across a nine-year period, to understand which hospitals were consistently high — and which were consistently low – for NTSV C-sections. We then used social media and reader surveys to find moms who had experienced what they felt may have been an unnecessary C-section — as well as moms who experienced lifesaving C-sections. We traveled the state to talk to these women, as well as officials with hospitals on either end of the spectrum, to find out more about the complicated and pervasive operation — which can save or end a life.

Read the full series here.

This series is the result of a collaborative reporting partnership between Mississippi Today and The Fuller Project.

Mississippi Today, winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, is the state’s flagship nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to hold the powerful accountable and equip Mississippians with the news and information they need to understand and engage with their state.

The Fuller Project is an award-winning global nonprofit newsroom dedicated to reporting on issues that affect women. The Fuller Project encourages you to follow them and sign up to learn more.

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Sophia, a New York native, covers community health with a focus on women’s and family health care. In 2023, she graduated with a master’s in journalism from Northeastern University, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Boston Scope. Her multimedia work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association and the New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She has also worked for the global nonprofit, Girl Rising, and the documentary group, The Disability Justice Project.