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Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesJakobi 2, r 116-121, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJakobi 2, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJakobi 2, IV korrus, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJakobi 2, III korrus, ruumid 302-337, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 16, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 18, 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTLossi 3, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTPosti 1, 71004 Viljandi linn, Viljandimaa ESTJakobi 2, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJakobi 2, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTFaculty of Social SciencesLossi 36, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJakobi 5, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTLossi 36, ruum 301, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNarva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNäituse 2, 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNäituse 20 - 118, 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTLossi 36, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRaekoja plats 2, 20307 Narva linn, Ida-Virumaa ESTRingi 35, 80012 Pärnu linn, Pärnu linn, Pärnumaa ESTLossi 36, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTLossi 36, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTFaculty of MedicineRavila 19, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTBiomeedikum, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNooruse 1, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTL. Puusepa 1a, 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTL. Puusepa 8, 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRavila 19, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTUjula 4, 51008 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRavila, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRavila 19, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTFaculty of Science and TechnologyVanemuise 46 - 208, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNarva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRavila 14a, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNarva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRiia 23, 23b - 134, 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTObservatooriumi 1, 61602 Tõravere alevik, Nõo vald, Tartumaa ESTNooruse 1, 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTJ. Liivi tn 2, 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTRiia 23b/2, 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTVanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTVanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of RectorÜlikooli 18, 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Vice Rector for Academic AffairsUppsala 10, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 18b, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 18a (III korrus), 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Vice Rector for ResearchW. Struve 1, 50091 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Director of AdministrationUppsala 10, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 18, ruumid 102, 104, 209, 210, 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTÜlikooli 18A (III korrus), 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Head of FinanceÜlikooli 17, 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Vice Rector for DevelopmentLossi 25, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTVanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTNarva mnt 18, 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTArea of Academic SecretaryUppsala 6, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST
Doctoral defence: Kaire Sildver "Operative deliveries in Estonia and Finland, 1992-2023"
On 24 November 2025 Kaire Sildver will defend her thesis "Operative deliveries in Estonia and Finland, 1992-2023".
Supervisors:
Senior Reseach Fellow Piret Veerus, National Institute of Health Development
Lead Researcher Mika Gissler, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (Finland)/Karolinska Institute (Sweden)
Associate Professor of Epidemiology Katrin Lang, University of Tartu
Opponent:
Professor Piotr Sieroszewski, Medical University of Lodz (Poland)
Summary:
Globally, the proportion of Cesarean sections (CS) has been steadily increasing over the past decades, while the proportion of vaginal births has been declining. The World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasises that CS is a life-saving procedure for both mother and child, only when there is a clear medical indication. The other option for operative intervention is operative vaiganl delivery (OVD). All operative deliveries carry a risk of short- and long-term complications for both mother and child. The WHO recommends the use of the Robson Classification System as a global standard for the consistent evaluation and development of obstetric care. This system enables the objective assessment, monitoring, and comparison of CS rates across healthcare facilities, both nationally and globally, and can also be applied to evaluating operative vaginal delivery. In addition to CS, the proportion of operative vaginal deliveries should also be monitored.
Estonia and Finland are neighbouring countries, but their perinatal indicators have historically been very different. This study provides an opportunity to compare and analyse the proportions and time trends of operative deliveries over three decades in Estonia and Finland.
The proportions of CS and OVD have increased over the study period in both countries. As of 2023, the CS rates in Estonia and Finland are similar to the global average (21%). In many other European countries, however, the proportion of CS is significantly higher. Based on the results of the Robson Classification System, Estonia is similar to the Nordic countries, including Finland. The proportion of OVD in Finland has consistently been about twice as high as in Estonia throughout the study period. Vacuum extraction has become the only method of operative vaginal delivery in both countries, as in many other European countries. By the end of the study period, operative deliveries accounted for approximately a quarter of all births in Estonia and Finland.
You can also watch the defense via Teams.
Doctoral defence: Kaire Sildver "Operative deliveries in Estonia and Finland, 1992-2023"
