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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Childhood Health and Developmental Outcomes After Cesarean Birth in an Australian Cohort

Stephen J. Robson, Hassan Vally, Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif, Maggie Yu and Elizabeth Westrupp
Pediatrics October 2015, peds.2015-1400; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1400
Stephen J. Robson
aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and
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Hassan Vally
bSchool of Psychology and Public Health, and
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Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif
cDepartment of Neonatology, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia;
dDiscipline of Neonatology, Medical School, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia;
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Maggie Yu
eParenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia;
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Elizabeth Westrupp
eParenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia;
fJudith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia;
gSchool of Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Concerns have been raised about associations between cesarean delivery and childhood obesity and asthma. However, published studies have not examined the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes or fully addressed confounding influences. We used data from the LSAC (Longitudinal Study of Australian Children) to explore the relationship between cesarean delivery and physical and socio-emotional outcomes from 0 to 7 years, taking into account confounding factors.

METHODS: Data were from 5 waves of LSAC representing 5107 children born in 2003 and 2004. Outcome measures included: global health, asthma, BMI, use of prescribed medication, general development, medical conditions and/or disabilities, special health care needs, and socio-emotional development. Models adjusted for birth factors, social vulnerability, maternal BMI, and breastfeeding.

RESULTS: Children born by cesarean delivery were more likely to have a medical condition at 2 to 3 years (odds ratio: 1.33; P = .03), use prescribed medication at 6 to 7 years (odds ratio: 1.26; P = .04), and have a higher BMI at 8 to 9 years (coefficient: 0.08; P = .05), although this last effect was mediated by maternal obesity. Parent-reported quality of life for children born by cesarean delivery was lower at 8 to 9 years (coefficient: –0.08; P = .03) but not at younger ages. Contrasting this finding, cesarean delivery was associated with better parent-reported global health at 2 to 3 years (odds ratio: 1.23; P = .05) and prosocial skills at age 6 to 7 years (coefficient: 0.09; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean delivery was associated with a mix of positive and negative outcomes across early childhood, but overall there were few associations, and these were not consistent across the 5 waves. This study does not support a strong association between cesarean delivery and poorer health or neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood.

  • Accepted August 12, 2015.
  • Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Pediatrics
Vol. 147, Issue 1
1 Jan 2021
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Childhood Health and Developmental Outcomes After Cesarean Birth in an Australian Cohort
Stephen J. Robson, Hassan Vally, Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif, Maggie Yu, Elizabeth Westrupp
Pediatrics Oct 2015, peds.2015-1400; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-1400

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Childhood Health and Developmental Outcomes After Cesarean Birth in an Australian Cohort
Stephen J. Robson, Hassan Vally, Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif, Maggie Yu, Elizabeth Westrupp
Pediatrics Oct 2015, peds.2015-1400; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-1400
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