Campaign against cesarean section in Egypt
Journalist May al-Shami launched a campaign to encourage Egyptian women to have a normal birth while the rate of cesarean section is very high in Egypt. Many women have supported the campaign.
ÎNAS KEMAL
Cairo- Egypt ranked 3rd among world countries with an estimated rate of Cesarean section of 51.8%, says the 2018 report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Egyptian journalist May al-Shami launched a campaign in June with the motto, “Stop Unnecessary Cesarean” to encourage women to have a normal birth instead of a C-section.
The cost of a C-section is very high
The rate of C-section in Egypt is quadrupled, according to research conducted by Egyptian El Watan Newspaper and Deputy Minister of Health Tariq Tawfi. Families spend a lot of money on C-sections. Over 466 thousand (Egyptian pounds) is paid for each C-section in the country.
Journalist wrote her thesis about C- section
Journalist May al-Shami, who lives in Cairo, studied at the American University in Cairo. She wrote her thesis about C-sections to graduate from the university. She began to listen to the stories of women, who had a C-section. After listening to many stories, she decided to launch a campaign with the motto, “Stop Unnecessary Cesarean” to encourage women to have a normal birth instead of a C-section. As NuJINHA team, we spoke to her about her campaign.
“Normal birth is healthy”
“The purpose of the campaign is not to force women to choose especially one method to give birth. Surely, we will support them no matter which methods they choose. However, many women are afraid of having a normal birth. I try to tell women that the normal birth is healthy,” May al-Shami told us.
The campaign targeted
Stating that the doctors have deceived women, said May al-Shami, adding, “This campaign will stop the social pressure on women. Some women and men attacked our campaign. They said, ‘May wants to encourage women to suffer more'. Since C-section is easier and quicker, women prefer to have it.”
Israa Ebid El- Fetah, a doctor in Cairo, gave us information about C-sections. “Cesarean section is a fetal delivery through an open abdominal incision. This surgery leaves a deep wound. This wound heals slowly. And mothers cannot breastfeed their babies during that time.”