When questioned about the high rate of caesarean sections on older women, most medical experts say it's due to complications in the pregnancy. But that theory was shot down in a recent study published in the British Medical Journal.

According to researchers, there is no indication that the c-sections were ordered because of obstetric complications.

The research team analyzed more than 23,000 deliveries to women at least 20-years-old during 1988-97. Details of obstetric complications and interventions associated with a higher probability of caesarean section were used to investigate the association with age.

They found that there was a "strong and consistent relation between maternal age and delivery by caesarean section." C-sections were performed on older women at a far greater rate than on younger women, even in the absence of any complications.

These results suggest that the relation between maternal age and caesarean section cannot be entirely explained by the obstetric complications considered in this study.

Physician and maternal preference may account for the higher section rates among older women, said the authors.

As noted in a previous WCAnews/Health Watch report, the International Childbirth Education Association has warned, "Cesarean sections are sometimes performed for other than maternal or fetal well-being, such as avoidance of patient pain, patient or provider convenience, provider legal concerns or provider financial incentives."