ASSOCIATION OF MODE OF DELIVERY WITH NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ADMISSION IN DELIVERIES AT TERM

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of mode of delivery (cesarean section) with Neonatal intensive care unit admission in deliveries at term

Study design: Cohort study Study place and period: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore from 16 August 2025 to 15 February 2026.

Methodology: One hundred and twenty females were included from labor room and delivery was conducted. Females were divided in two groups i.e. exposed and unexposed. After delivery, neonates were examined and if there were presence of any indication (for admission to NICU. All this information was recorded in proforma and analysed in SPSS version 25.0. 2x2 table was generated to calculate relative risk between NICU admission and mode of delivery with RR>1 as significant.

Results: The mean age of females in exposed group was 26.50 ± 5.64 years and in unexposed group was 29.70 ± 5.89 years. NICU admission was noted in 45 (75.0%) cases in exposed group while in 24 (40.0%) females in unexposed group. There was 4 times more risk of NICU admission in females who underwent cesarean section with Odds ratio of 4.500 (95% CI; 2.063, 9.816, p-value<0.0001).

Conclusion: It has been concluded that the risk of NICU admission increases four time if females delivered via cesarean section.