Medical experts are reporting that half of all babies born in China are delivered by cesarean section, far exceeding the standard of 15 percent set by the World Health Organization.

Some city hospitals report a C-section rate of more than 60 percent.

These rates represent a steep rise from the 1950s to the 1970s, when cesarean births remained at five percent. The high rates are driven in part by doctors who recommend C-sections to pregnant women to boost earnings.

"Cesarean sections earn doctors higher profits and so doctors tend to persuade pregnant women to have a cesarean," said a doctor who asked not to be named.

In Beijing's hospitals, the operation and hospital fees for a cesarean section are three to four times higher than that of a natural birth. At the Union Medical College Hospital, it costs 1600 yuan (US$205) for vaginal delivery, but 4,000 yuan for a cesarean section.

The C-section had often been seen as an emergency procedure. But now many women, uninformed about the procedure's side effects, mistakenly believe C-section is safer and less painful than natural birth.

"C-sections can cause some serious side effects to both mothers and children. Doctors should make the risks known to pregnant women, but only a few choose to do so," the doctor added.

Pan Junfeng, a gynecologist in Beijing's Haidian District Hospital of Maternity and Child Care, said, "The chances of postoperative infection for cesarean sections is 10 to 20 times higher than for natural labor and the risk of death associated with C-section in pregnant women is five times higher."

As well, the risk of depression and hemorrhage is higher, Pan said.