The rate of cesarean delivery in the United States is among the highest for developed nations. Because increased risks for maternal death and morbidity and perinatal morbidity are associated with cesarean delivery, a national health objective for the year 2000 is to reduce the overall rate of cesarean delivery to < or = 15.0 per 100 deliveries (1987 baseline: 24.4 per 100 deliveries) (objective 14.8)--a level last observed in 1978. This report uses data from CDC's National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to characterize cesarean deliveries during 1993, compares these rates with rates for 1970-1992, and assesses progress toward the national health objective for the year 2000.