[Reflections on the excessive rates of cesareans in Brazil and the empowerment of women].

The medicalization of childbirth as an outcome of social medicalization has been described as a complex sociocultural process that transforms the experiences, suffering and pain - which were formerly managed in the family or community settings - into medical needs. The scope of this paper is to reflect upon the excessive number of cesarean sections in Brazil from a critical and objective standpoint. Data on caesarean section statistics and studies on women's preference on the manner of delivery are discussed in order to contribute to the discussion on the empowerment of the health system consumers.