Abstract
Objective
to verify the effect of elective cesarean section compared to vaginal delivery, on the outcomes of the child's first year of life.
Methods
cohort study with 499 mothers and their babies. Sociodemographic data were collected, related to the gestational history, birth and delivery, and about the baby's first year of life, in an interview carried out at the neonatal screening unit, from the maternity records and in home interviews. The associations of interest were evaluated with Cox regression analyses adjusted for the identified covariates, considering results of bivariate analyses that presented statistical significance at a p<0.20 level. In the adjusted analyses, associations were considered significant if p<0.05, having as effect measure the relative risk.
Results
elective cesarean sections were not associated with the outcomes studied (interruption of breastfeeding, respiratory infections, atopies and overweight/obesity).
Conclusion and implications for practice
the absence of association of elective cesarean sections and first year outcomes may be confirmed in future investigations. Based on the findings, it is suggested that the health team should support mothers in order to increase their confidence and commitment to breastfeeding, a practice that may have a positive impact on the other outcomes studied.
Keywords:
Childbirth; Cesarean section; Elective Surgical Procedures; Morbidity; Infant