Epidemiology
Occurs in 0.3% to 0.5% of pregnancies worldwide.[6][7][8] Frequency depends partly on the frequency of underlying risk factors in the population. The condition is uncommon in first pregnancies. In the US, the frequency of placenta praevia has been increasing secondary to the increase in the use of caesarean section. One caesarean section increases the incidence in the next pregnancy to about 0.6%.[6] Subsequent caesarean sections increase the risk only slightly compared with one procedure. This increase in incidence is expected to be mirrored in other countries with increasing caesarean rates.[6][9][10][11] As with many other issues in obstetrics, most of the epidemiological studies on this topic have been done in developed countries. This may affect incidence and risk factors.
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer