Siddhesh Zadey^1,2*, Emily R. Smith^3,4, Catherine A. Staton^3,4, Tamara N. Fitzgerald^2,4,

Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci^3,4

1 Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India

2 Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America

3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America

4 Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America

Keywords: cesarean sections, India, health disparities, global surgery

For submission to BJOG

*Corresponding author: Siddhesh Zadey, BSMS MSc-GH; ASAR Office Address: D2 Sai Heritage, New DP Road, Aundh, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411007; Email:sidzadey@asarforindia.org,siddhesh.zadey@duke.edu; Ph. No.: +1-919-699-9557

Article type: Research Letter

Word count: 691

No. of figures: 1