Chinese mothers urged to keep it real

Ever since the World Health Organization announced China has the highest Caesarean section rate in the world in 2010, health authorities, hospitals and medical professionals have been trying to reduce the prevalence of C-section in China, experts say.

Health authorities have established high natural birth rates as a key factor for performance evaluation of top-level hospitals, and some hospitals have been offering incentives to doctors and nurses for carrying out natural deliveries.

On Aug 24, with support from local health authorities, Beijing HarMoniCare Women and Children's Hospital, a private hospital in Beijing, launched a program to promote natural birth.