Neonatal outcome following cesarean birth: a prospective study.

Neonatal morbidity and mortality in 573 singleton cesarean born infants was recorded. In 70% of women, it was a primary cesarean section. The neonatal mortality was 3.6% in babies born to primigravida mothers and 9.8% in infants of multigravida. Mortality in male and female infants was 5.73 and 9.65%, respectively. Preterm infants registered more than 7 times higher mortality than term infants. Birth weight below 2000 g and above 3500 g were associated with higher asphyxia rate and neonatal death. Neonatal morbidity frequently encountered was birth asphyxia (19.19%), septicemia (13.43%), jaundice (15.70%) and respiratory problems (23.0%).