Risk factors for low birthweight in north-east Brazil: the role of caesarean section

Caesarean section (CS) delivery is associated with low birthweight (LBW) in south-east Brazil. A hospital-based study was conducted on singleton infants from mothers residing in Sao Luis, to assess if an association between CS and LBW was found in the northern part of the country, where the CS rate is lower than in the south-east. A standardised questionnaire was administered to a sample of 2541 mothers in 10 hospitals, representing 94% of all deliveries, from March 1997 to February 1998. In a logistic model, type of delivery was the independent variable, the other variables were treated as confounders, and interaction terms were added between type of delivery and all other factors. LBW was associated with low maternal height, maternal smoking, primiparity, previous LBW, public insurance, preterm birth and CS. The CS rate was 33.7%. The risk of CS was higher for primiparous and married mothers, those with high level of schooling and attended by the same physician during prenatal and delivery care, deliveries held in private hospitals, daylight hours or evenings, and for those mothers who had adequate prenatal care. Because it appears unlikely that only medical reasons are operative, it is a possibility that CS could cause LBW, reflecting abusive indications for elective CS.