[Association between elective cesarean section and infants' developmental behaviors: a cohort study]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Elective cesarean section (ECS) prevalence is increasing globally.
• The impact of ECS on infant developmental behaviors requires further investigation.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for early childhood development monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between elective cesarean section (ECS) and infant developmental behaviors.
• To assess developmental outcomes at 6 and 18 months of age.
• To differentiate effects based on medical indication for ECS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 3,042 mother-infant pairs was analyzed.
• Infant development was assessed at 6 and 18 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-third edition.
• Multifactor non-conditional logistic regression models adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• ECS, both with and without medical indication, increased the risk of delayed gross motor skills at 6 months.
• ECS without indication decreased the risk of delayed fine motor skills at 6 months.
• No statistically significant effects of ECS on communication, problem-solving, or social-personal functions were observed at 18 months.

Conclusions:

• Elective cesarean section (ECS) appears to influence infant motor development at 6 months.
• No significant long-term developmental effects were detected at 18 months.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these short-term motor impacts.