Health ministry launches campaign to promote natural childbirth
Cyprus's health ministry has begun a month-long information drive for expectant mothers, aiming to lower the country's high cesarean rate and cut premature births.
Cyprus's health ministry on Friday began a public information campaign encouraging natural childbirth and seeking to bring down premature birth numbers, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The drive runs through November and includes World Prematurity Day on November 17.
Official figures show 61.8 per cent of deliveries in 2024 were by cesarean section, while 13 per cent of births were premature. The ministry wants the cesarean rate below 60 per cent in 2026.
Expectant mothers are urged to weigh the scientific evidence with their doctor and midwife when preparing a personal birth plan. Free home visits from a community midwife are available to all pregnant women under Gesy, the ministry noted.
“When there is no medical indication for a cesarean section, natural childbirth is generally the appropriate choice for the mother and baby,” the ministry said.
What it means for residents
For families expecting a baby in Cyprus, the campaign puts more emphasis on informed choice rather than routine surgery. Anyone covered by Gesy can already book free midwife visits, so the main change is practical guidance, not new costs.
- Check your options Ask your doctor or midwife about a community midwife visit and discuss your birth plan early.
- Know the numbers The 2024 figures show most births here are surgical, so raising the natural-birth share would shift how maternity wards operate.
- Watch the target The ministry aims to get the cesarean rate under 60 per cent by 2026, a goal that could affect how births are scheduled.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
