Caesarean Section Delivery Is Associated with Childhood Overweight and Obesity, Low Childbirth Weight and Postnatal Complications: A Cross-Sectional Study
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: In the last decades, simultaneously increasing trends have been recorded for both caesarean section delivery and childhood overweight/obesity around the world, which are considered serious public health concerns, negatively affecting child health. Aim: T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/4/664 |
| Summary: | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: In the last decades, simultaneously increasing trends have been recorded for both caesarean section delivery and childhood overweight/obesity around the world, which are considered serious public health concerns, negatively affecting child health. Aim: The present study aims to investigate whether caesarean section is associated with the increased rates of childhood overweight/obesity, low childbirth anthropometric indices and postnatal complications in pre-school age. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> This is a cross-sectional study in which 5215 pre-school children aged 2–5 years old were enrolled from nine different Greek regions after applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Non-adjusted and adjusted statistical analysis was performed to assess the impact of caesarean section in comparison to vaginal delivery. <i>Results:</i> Children delivered by caesarean section were significantly more frequently overweight or obese at the age of 2–5 years, also presenting a higher prevalence of low birth weight, length and head circumference. Caesarean section was also associated with higher incidence of asthma and diabetes type I at the age of 2–5 years. In a multivariate analysis, caesarean section increased the risk of childhood overweight/obesity and low childbirth anthropometric indices even if adjusting for several childhood and maternal confounding factors. <i>Conclusions</i>: Increasing trends were recorded for both caesarean section delivery and childhood overweight/obesity, which are considered serious public health concerns. Caesarean section independently increased childhood overweight/obesity in pre-school age, highlighting the emergent need to promote health policies and strategies to inform future mothers about its short and long-term risks and that this mode of delivery should preferably be performed only when there are strong medical recommendations in emergency obstetric conditions. |
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| ISSN: | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |