Research article
Effects of caesarean section on maternal health in low risk nulliparous women: a prospective matched cohort study in Shanghai, China
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* Corresponding authors: Bing-shun Wang wangbingshun@sjtu.edu.cn - Li-feng Zhou lifeng.zhou@waitematadhb.govt.nz
1 Department of Biostatistics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, PR China
2 Planning and Funding, Waitemata District Health Board, Private Bag 93-503, Takapuna, North Shore 0740, New Zealand
3 264 Highgate, Roslyn, Dunedin 9010, New Zealand
4 Department of Epidemiology and Social Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai 200032, PR China
5 Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, 507 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA
6 International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 910 Heng Shan Road, Shanghai 200030, PR China
7 Shanghai Women's Health Institute, 122 South Shan Xi Road, Shanghai 200040, PR China
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2010, 10:78 doi:10.1186/1471-2393-10-78
Published: 2 December 2010Abstract
Background
Rates of caesarean section are progressively increasing in many parts of the world. As a result of psychosocial factors there has been an increasing tendency for pregnant women without justifiable medical indications for caesarean section to ask for this procedure in China. A critical examination of this issue in relation to maternal outcomes is important. At present there are no clinical trials to help assess the risks and benefits of caesarean section in low risk women. To fill the gap left by trials, this indication-matched cohort study was carried out to examine prospectively the outcomes of caesarean section on women with no absolute obstetric indication compared with similar women who had vaginal delivery.
Methods
An indication-matched cohort study was undertaken to compare maternal outcomes following caesarean section with those undergoing vaginal delivery, in which the two groups were matched for non-absolute indications. 301 nulliparous women with caesarean section were matched successfully with 301 women who delivered vaginally in the Maternal and Children's Hospitals (MCHs) in Shanghai, China. Logistic regression model or binomial regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) directly. Adjusted RRs were calculated adjusting for propensity score and medical indications.
Results
The incidence of total complications was 2.2 times higher in the caesarean section group during hospitalization post-partum, compared with the vaginal delivery group (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-4.4). The risk of haemorrhage from the start of labour until 2 hours post-partum was significantly higher in the caesarean group (RR = 5.6; 95% CI: 1.2-26.9). The risk of chronic abdominal pain was significantly higher for the caesarean section group (RR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.2-10.9) than for the vaginal delivery group within 12 months post-partum. The two groups had similar incidences of anaemia and complicating infections such as wound complications or urinary tract infection.
Conclusions
In nulliparous women who were at low risk, caesarean section was associated with a higher rate of post-partum morbidity. Those requesting the surgical procedure with no conventional medical indication, should be advised of the potential risks.