Turkey has imposed a ban on elective cesarean sections in private healthcare facilities without medical justification, following new regulations issued by the Ministry of Health and published in the official gazette over the weekend.

The Turkish government encourages women to opt for natural childbirth, while cesarean sections involve surgical incisions into the abdomen and uterus.

A notice published in the official gazette on Sunday outlined the new rules governing private healthcare institutions, stating that "planned cesarean sections may not be performed in a medical center."

Turkey recorded the highest cesarean birth rate among the 38 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the latest available data from 2021. A report from World Population Review indicated that 584 out of every 1,000 births in Turkey that year were performed via cesarean section.

The issue gained traction last week during a Turkish football league match between Fenerbahçe and Sivasspor , when Sivasspor players entered the field carrying a banner reading "Natural birth is natural," promoting the Turkish Ministry of Health’s initiative advocating for natural childbirth.

This moves sparked outrage among opposition politicians, doctors, and organizations advocating for women’s rights.