Implementing the World Health Organizaion’s guidelines could help improve women’s care during childbirth and reduce unnecessary cesarean section deliveries, a pilot study conducted in India has found. Cesarean sections account for over 1 in 5 childbirths globally, with the numbers set to rise in the coming decade to one-third of all births, according to WHO.

When performed for medical reasons, cesarean sections can be lifesaving and are an essential component of good-quality medical care, but they can also carry inherent risks. The latest study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, is the world’s first randomized trial of the WHO’s Labor Care Guide (LCG).