Does the Sex of the Physician Influence Cesarean Probability?

Many factors influence cesarean delivery rates, including physician characteristics such as education, experience, personal beliefs, and peer influence. To investigate the relation between a physician's sex and the likelihood of performing cesarean delivery, researchers conducted a review and meta-analysis of 26 studies.

Compared with their male counterparts, female physicians were less likely to perform cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.75). In addition, female physicians had less preference for cesarean deliveries (aOR, 0.58) and lower cesarean rates when no relevant indications existed.