C-section or vaginal delivery :
making an informed choice !
C-section or vaginal delivery :
making an informed choice !
An international research project on the appropriate use to cesarean section : how to make the right decision?
An international research project on the appropriate use to cesarean section: how to make the right decision?

What is Quali-Dec ?
A scientific project of collective and shared research :
• Which aims to reduce the practice of non-medically justified caesarean sections
• International in scope, it is composed of a consortium of 9 countries and an intervention area covering 4 target countries: Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand, Vietnam.
• It is financed by the European Commission (EC) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
The team
This project is carried out by an international and multidisciplinary team composed of health practitioners, researchers in social sciences and medical sciences. These specialists spread around the world bring to this project their knowledge and local studies in order to enrich and refine it over time. This team is grouped around Alexandre Dumont, scientific coordinator of the project.

The deployment
Quali-Dec is being implemented in 4 countries: Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand and Vietnam. It is led by a consortium of institutions located in 9 countries : Argentina, Burkina Faso, Spain, France, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam.
Global partners
Quali-Dec partners are involved in promoting the project worldwide. Each institution disseminates the project’s decision-support tools, and health practitioners and researchers guide patients in their choice between natural childbirth and planned caesarean section. In their respective countries and locally, their role is essential to make the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of delivery known. The Quali-Dec partners are therefore essential relays to answer questions and guarantee the health of their patients and their babies.
FAQuali-Dec
Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions… A “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the page
will also allow you to write to us if you have not found the answer to your question:
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Researchers from the Quali-Dec project have analysed all published studies from around the world that have compared the health outcomes of mothers and newborns according to the mode of delivery.
There is often a lack of information about the risks associated with each method. This is why QUALI-DEC is making the results of these studies available to you, including a downloadable guide and app to help you make the right decision. Nevertheless, the latest research clearly shows that there are more complications for both mother and baby after a caesarean section, even if it is planned.
Feel free to discuss with your doctor the possibilities of a vaginal delivery for your situation:
– Take the time to weigh up the pros and cons of a planned caesarean section or a natural birth with your doctor.
– If you still have questions about the benefits of a vaginal delivery, you can seek a second opinion from another practitioner.
If a scheduled caesarean section is decided upon, it is important to schedule it after 39 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of respiratory distress in the baby after birth. Keep in mind that labour may start spontaneously before the scheduled caesarean date. In this case, your doctor will reassess the possibility of a vaginal delivery.
Are you pregnant and wondering how you will give birth? Do you prefer a scheduled caesarean section before the onset of labour even though your doctor says it is not particularly necessary or do you want to attempt a vaginal delivery despite your doctor’s recommendation that you need a caesarean section? This booklet will help you to understand the advantages and disadvantages of both options and will help you to communicate better with your doctor.
Quali-Dec is a project born from the joint work of the IRD (Institute for Research and Development) and its partners. Since 2020, the IRD has been conducting this project in the form of a consortium in 9 countries with a scientific research fieldwork that covers 4 countries: Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand and Vietnam.
It is based on the often alarming observation that there is too much recourse to Caesarean sections as a method of delivery.
Quali-Dec provides pregnant women, their relatives, health professionals with non-clinical tools and researchers with evaluation studies to improve the decision to have a caesarean section.
Despite strong awareness among women and health professionals, the practice of caesarean sections is constantly on the rise, worldwide (+35% on average over the last 25 years).
This growth is often related to a choice of comfort and not to medical reasons.
Sometimes, for medical reasons, a planned caesarean section before the start of labour is necessary. However, it is usually possible to attempt a natural birth, which has many advantages over a caesarean section.
There are many misconceptions about the safety and presumed benefits of Caesarean section, but also about the fact that a woman should give birth vaginally no matter what.
Blog

Based on WHO recommendations and scientific studies, the Quali-Dec strategy is based on a major component to reduce non-medically justified caesarean sections : Companionship (for the pregnant woman).
Discover through this Policy Brief the experience of the Quali-Dec project in Thailand… Click here.

Caesarean section or vaginal delivery for low-risk pregnancy? Helping women make an informed choice in low- and middle-income countries
Authors : Alexandre Dumont ,Myriam de Loenzien, Hung Mac Quo Nhu, Marylène Dugas, Charles Kabore, Pisake Lumbiganon, Maria Regina Torloni, Celina Gialdini, Guillermo Carroli, Claudia

Implementation and evaluation of nonclinical interventions for appropriate use of cesarean section in low- and middle-income countries
Authors : Alexandre Dumont ,Myriam de Loenzien, Hung Mac Quo Nhu, Marylène Dugas, Charles Kabore, Pisake Lumbiganon, Maria Regina Torloni, Celina Gialdini, Guillermo Carroli, Claudia