Cesarean section in the People's Republic of China: current perspectives

Fertility policy changes, maternal and foetal characteristics and birth timing patterns at a tertiary referral centre in Beijing: a ten-year retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the impacts of the changing national fertility policy on maternal and fetal characteristics, and birth timing patterns and provide a basis for the management of the obstetric and midwifery workforce.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Data from medical register of a tertiary referral centre in Beijing, China.

PARTICIPANTS

We included 20 334 births with a gestational age more than 28 weeks during January 2013-September 2023.

MAIN OUTCOMES

The main outcomes included birth numbers, maternal age, parity, birth modes, premature rates, neonatal birth weight, and birth timings.

RESULTS

The birth rates showed a general rising trend before 2016. Afterwards, the birth rates kept decreasing and reached the bottom level in 2022. The caesarean section rates showed a declining trend, while the assisted birth rates were progressively rising, especially among primiparous women. From 2013 to 2022, the proportions of multiparous women (increasing from 9.3% to 36.6%) and women with advanced maternal age (increasing from 11.4% to 34.5%) were on the rise, together with increasing rates of premature birth (increasing from 5.7% to 8.5%) and neonatal low birth weight (rising from 4.3% to 7.2%) in this population. This study found a significant peak of births between 14:00 and 15:00, which remained unchanged despite shifts in the fertility policy (p<0.001 and [Formula: see text] values close to 1, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The 'three-child' policy did not boost the birth rate further 2 years later after its enactment, and the proportion of multiparous women and women with advanced maternal age were on the rise, accompanied by an increase in rates of premature birth and low birth weight. Targeted training should be offered to healthcare professionals to empower them to deal with possible negative pregnancy outcomes and childbirth complications. Prepregnancy and antepartum education should be parity specific. Adequate midwifery staffing during this 14:00-15:00 is vital to promote a safe birth.

Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of obstetric infection after the Universal Two-Child Policy in North China: a 5-year retrospective study based on 268,311 cases

BACKGROUND

Obstetrical infection is one of the causes of maternal death and a difficult problem for many clinicians. Changes in the demographic and obstetric background of pregnant women following the Universal Two-Child Policy may have an impact on some fertility phenomena. And with the increase in the number of deliveries, the limited medical resources become more scarce. How will China's health system quickly adapt to the growing needs and expectations for maternal health and ensure the provision of qualified and accessible medical services? In addition, what social support measures should be provided to reduce preventable obstetric complications? Given the relatively low per capita share of medical resources in China, how should China deal with the impact of the Universal Two-Child Policy? Therefore, more studies based on the change of fertility policy are needed. We try to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of obstetric infection before and after the Universal Two-Child Policy, with a view to providing reference for the prevention and control of obstetric infection in regions after the change of fertility policy, and also hope to make corresponding contributions to the solution of the above problems through relevant studies.

METHODS

The subjects of the survey were 268,311 pregnant women from Hebei Province Maternal Near Miss Surveillance System (HBMNMSS) of Hebei Women and Children's Health Center from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. We analyzed the region, time and population distribution characteristics of obstetric infection, compared the epidemiological factors of obstetric infection before and after the Universal Two-Child Policy, and analyzed the relevant risk factors of obstetric infection.

RESULTS

The incidence of obstetric infection increased nearly twice after the Universal Two-Child Policy. The incidence of obstetric infection was highest in Chengde (1.9%), a city with a northward geographical distribution, Baoding (1.6%), Cangzhou (1.5%) followed; The higher the hospital grade, the higher the incidence; The incidence of obstetric infections in hospitals at all levels has increased; The age of onset before the Universal Two-Child Policy was (27.82 ± 5.047) years old, and the age after the Universal Two-Child Policy was (28.97 ± 4.880) years old; The incidence of obstetric infections is higher in winter. The rate of abortion-related infection (increased from 0.61 to 1.65%) and the rate of pregnant women with high school education (increased from 0.35 to 0.74%) increased significantly. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis after the Universal Two-Child Policy showed that anemia (OR = 1.249, 95%CI: 1.071-1.458), chronic hypertension (OR = 1.934, 95%CI: 1.375-2.722), mild preeclampsia (OR = 2.103, 95%CI: 1.323-3.344) and severe preeclampsia (OR = 2.228, 95%CI: 1.703-2.916) were independent risk factors for obstetric infection. Gestational age ≥ 37 weeks was a protective factor.

CONCLUSION

After the Universal Two-Child Policy, the prevention and control of obstetric infections should be strengthened, especially for abortion-related infections and elderly maternal with obstetric complications and complication in high-grade hospitals in winter. Educational background is also one of the factors that should be considered in the prevention of obstetric sensation. Prolonging gestational age is helpful to reduce the incidence of obstetric infection.

A retrospective analysis of maternal complications and newborn outcomes of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a single tertiary hospital in China

Background

Either neuraxial anesthesia or general anesthesia can be performed for cesarean delivery. Generally, neuraxial anesthesia is the first choice with the risk and benefit balance for both the mother and fetus. However, general anesthesia is also applicable most commonly in the emergent setting. This study analyzed maternal complications associated with general anesthesia for cesarean delivery and suggested lowering pregnancy-related maternal and newborn adverse outcomes.

Methods

With the approval of the Institutional Ethics Review Board (No: 2017016), data on cesarean delivery and related anesthesia were collected from the Electronic Health Record System from 1/1/2013 to 12/31/2016. Statistical software STATA version 15.1 was used for data analyses. All statistical tests were two-sided, and a level significance of 0.05 was assumed.

Results

The rate of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery increased steadily during 2013–2016, 3.71% in 2013 to 10.23% in 2016 (p < 0.001). Repeat cesarean delivery among general anesthesia group increased significantly from 16.22% in 2013 to 54.14% in 2016 (p < 0.001). Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) was the first reason among pregnancy-related complications, which accounted for 33% in total in general anesthesia group (38% in 2013 to 44% in 2016). The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was used in airway management, and the proportion of LMA increased from 28.38% in 2013 to 92.99% in 2016 (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in newborn outcomes between general anesthesia and neuraxial anesthesia groups, including newborn weight, newborn Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min and newborn admission to the NICU (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The growing incidence of general anesthesia was consistent with the trend of rising repeat cesarean delivery and MAP. low newborn Apgar score and high newborn admission to the NICU in general anesthesia group compared with neuraxial anesthesia group. The LMA was performed safely for airway management with enough fasting and careful gastric volume evaluation.

The Inconsistency Between Women's Preference and Actual Mode of Delivery in China: Findings From a Prospective Cohort Study

Background

Previous studies have found that the rates of cesarean preference were much lower than the actual rates of cesarean births in China. We aimed to observe this inconsistency between preferred and actual modes of delivery and the factors associated with the inconsistency.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study at the maternity hospital with the largest number of deliveries in Beijing. We collected data through a questionnaire applied in the outpatient department, and medical records from the hospital's information system. Unconditional logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing the inconsistency between preferred and actual delivery mode.

Results

The rates of actual cesarean section and of cesarean preference were 41 and 17%, respectively (χ² = 82.9, P < 0.0001). The overall inconsistency rate was 31%, with 119 women preferred vaginal delivery but experienced cesarean section, accounting for 67% women undergoing cesarean section. Risk factors for this inconsistency between preferred vaginal delivery and actual cesarean section included: maternal obesity, receiving assisted reproduction, having an abnormal amniotic fluid volume, and fetal distress. Pre-labor rupture of membranes was a unique factor associated with such inconsistency between cesarean section preference and vaginal delivery at delivery.

Conclusions

The inconsistent rate between preferred delivery at late pregnancy and actual delivery is high in China. Further research is needed to understand how to lower cesarean rates in China, taking maternal preferences for vaginal deliveries into account.

Cesarean delivery on maternal request and common child health outcomes: A prospective cohort study in China

Background

Cesarean delivery vs vaginal delivery was reported to increase the risks of childhood obesity, pneumonia, anemia, and neurobehavioral disorders, but few studies were able to deal with the confounding biases associated with medical conditions indicating cesareans. This prospective cohort study aims to investigate the associations of non-medically indicated cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) with these child health outcomes.

Methods

Among 17 748 liveborn infants whose mothers (primiparas) participated in a randomized controlled trial on micronutrient supplementation and pregnancy outcomes during 2006-2009 in 5 rural counties in Hebei Province, China, 6972 singletons born by full-term spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) and 3626 by CDMR were extracted for the assessments of obesity (weight-for-height z-score >3) and pneumonia (self-reported) at 1.5-5 years in 2011. Some children were further randomly selected from these two groups for the assessments of anemia (hemoglobin <110 g/L, 2341 SVD and 2417 CDMR) and neurobehavioral disorders (raw score of Child Behavior Checklist larger than the 90th percentile of the normative sample, 1257 SVD and 1060 CDMR).

Results

Compared with SVD, CDMR was associated with increased risks of obesity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-1.75, P = 0.002) and anemia (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.28-2.12, P < 0.001), but not with the risk of pneumonia (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.94-1.45, P = 0.17) or neurobehavioral disorders (aORs varied from 0.82 to 0.91, P > 0.05) in childhood.

Conclusions

Cesarean delivery, independent of cesarean indications, is likely associated with childhood obesity and anemia, indicating a need to keep pregnant women informed, especially those seeking CDMR, a need to explore possible improvement on obstetric service, and even a need for main stakeholders to reach a compromise in making a cesarean decision.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00133744 and NCT01404416

Early-term birth and its association with universal two-child policy: a national cross-sectional study in China

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of early-term birth (ETB) at the national level in China, and explore the association and mediating factors between ETB and policy between universal two-child policy and ETB, so as to explain the potential reason for such a relationship and provide evidence for future ETB interventions in the era of the new birth control policy.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

The cross-sectional study used data from China Labour and Delivery Survey between 2015 and 2016. A total of 75 132 survey data collected from 89 hospitals in 25 provinces were included in the analysis. We further explored the association between the universal two-child policy and ETB.

RESULTS

The weighted incidence of ETB was 30.1 per 100 all births (95% CI 30.06% to 30.14%) or 29.88 per 100 live births (95% CI 29.97% to 30.05%) between 2015 and 2016 in China. There was an association between the universal two-child policy and ETB (relative risk, RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.23), which was not mediated by maternal age (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.22), previous uterine scars (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.22), parity (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.24) and other measured conditions (each p<0.05). Stratified analysis showed that the association between universal two-child policy and ETB were the strongest in multiparous young women or women without previous uterine scars (each p<0.05), and disappeared in all women of advanced maternal age (each p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of ETB was high in China when compared with most of reported countries, and there might be a link between two-child policy and ETB. Obstetric practice such as selective induced labour and caesarean section should be revised with ETB risks in mind, when ETB is more likely to happen under the universal two-child policy. Preventing ETB should not be neglected in multiparous young women or those without previous uterine scars under the new policy.

The current practice of aspiration prophylaxis in obstetric anesthesia: a survey among non-physician anesthetic providers working in hospitals in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary aspiration is one of the most important complications of obstetric anesthesia. Prevention of pulmonary aspiration is commonly performed by the application of different anesthetic maneuvers and administration of drugs. This study aimed to assess the non-physician anesthetic providers current practice of aspiration prophylaxis during anesthesia for cesarean section in Ethiopia.

METHODS

This survey study was conducted from October 01 to November 05, 2020, on a total of 490 anesthetic providers working in hospitals in Ethiopia. A structured checklist was used to collect data from non-physician anesthetic providers.

RESULTS

Four hundred and ninety (490) anesthetic providers participated in our study. The majority of the respondents (84%) were working in the public sector. Most of the cesarean delivery was done under regional anesthesia and more than half of anesthetic providers in Ethiopia administered aspiration prophylaxis routinely. Metoclopramide was the most frequently given as a prophylaxis for pulmonary aspiration.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the anesthetic providers administered aspiration prophylaxis routinely. Metoclopramide was the commonest administered aspiration prophylaxis for parturients who underwent cesarean delivery to prevent aspiration.

Comparing levonorgestrel intrauterine system versus hysteroscopic resection in patients with postmenstrual spotting related to a niche in the caesarean scar (MIHYS NICHE trial): protocol of a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Recently, the rate of caesarean sections (CS) worldwide has risen and CS-associated complications such as niche have increased substantially. Until now, evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment of niche-related symptoms remain absent. In patients with postmenstrual spotting, it has not been studied if the effect of levonorgestrel 52 mg intrauterine system (LNG-IUS 52 mg) is superior to that of hysteroscopy. This study will answer the question of whether LNG-IUS 52 mg is more effective in improving postmenstrual spotting than hysteroscopic niche resection in women with niche-related spotting at 6 months after randomisation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a randomised controlled trial. A total of 208 women with postmenstrual spotting related to niche in the caesarean uterine scar of at least 2 mm and residual myometrium of at least 2.2 mm evaluated by MRI will be included. Women desiring to conceive within 1 year, with contraindications for LNG-IUS 52 mg or hysteroscopic surgery will be excluded. After informed consent is obtained, eligible women will be randomly allocated to LNG-IUS 52 mg or hysteroscopic niche resection at 1:1. The primary outcome is the efficacy in reducing postmenstrual spotting at 6 months after randomisation. The secondary outcomes include menstrual pattern, total days of blood loss per month, rate of amenorrhoea, side effects and complications.We will use a Visual Analogue Scale for chronic pelvic pain, urological symptoms and women's satisfaction (five-point Likert scale).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the local medical ethics committee and by the Institutional Review Board of the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai, China (No. GKLW 2019-08). Participants will sign a written informed consent before participation. The results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1900025677.

Hukou-based rural-urban disparities in maternal health service utilization and delivery modes in two Chinese cities in Guangdong Province

BACKGROUND

Most existing research on rural-urban health inequalities focuses on disparities in service access and health outcomes based on region. This paper examines rural-urban disparities in maternal healthcare utilization and delivery modes based on household registration (hukou) status to understand the role of state institutions in producing healthcare disparities in China.

METHODS

Utilizing administrative data from the Public Maternal Health Insurance scheme, we analyzed 54,733 live births in City A (2015-2019) and 25,849 live births in City B (2018-2019) in Guangdong Province in China. We constructed regression models using hukou status (rural versus urban) as the explanatory variable.

RESULTS

While there is no statistically significant difference in rural and urban mothers' probability of obtaining the minimum recommended number of prenatal care checkups in City A (OR = 0.990 [0.950, 1.032]), mothers with rural hukou status have a lower probability of obtaining the minimum recommended number of visits in City B than their counterparts with urban hukou (OR = 0.781 [0.740, 0.825]). The probability of delivering in tertiary hospital is lower among mothers with rural hukou than among those with urban hukou in both cities (City A: OR = 0.734 [0.701, 0.769]; City B: OR = 0.336 [0.319, 0.354]). Mothers with rural hukou are more likely to have a Cesarean section than those with urban hukou in both cities (City A: OR = 1.065 [1.027, 1.104]; City B: OR = 1.127 [1.069, 1.189]). Compared with mothers with urban hukou, mothers with rural hukou incurred 4 % (95 % CI [-0.046, -0.033]) and 9.4 % (95 % CI [-0.120, -0.068]) less in total medical costs for those who delivered via Cesarean section and 7.8 % (95 % CI [-0.085, -0.071]) and 19.9 % (95 % CI [-0.221, -0.177]) less for those who delivered via natural delivery in City A and City B, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Rural hukou status is associated with younger age, no difference or lower probability of having a minimum number of prenatal checkups, higher likelihood of delivering in nontertiary hospitals, increased Cesarean delivery rates, and lower medical cost for delivery in these two Chinese cities. Evaluating how hukou status influences maternal healthcare in Chinese cities is important for devising targeted public policies to promote more equitable maternal health services.

Anesthesia, sex and miscarriage history may influence the association between cesarean delivery and autism spectrum disorder

BACKGROUND

To explore the association between cesarean section (CS) and risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and evaluate the possible factors influencing this association.

METHODS

In total, 950 patients diagnosed with ASD and 764 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Socio-demographic characteristics and prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal characteristics were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were applied to adjust for confounders. Further stratified analyses based on sex and miscarriage history were similarly performed to explore the factors influencing the association between CS and ASD.

RESULTS

CS was evidently associated with an elevated risk of ASD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.606, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.311-1.969). Unlike regional anesthesia (RA), only CS performed under general anesthesia (GA) consistently elevated the risk of ASD (aOR = 1.887, 95% CI = 1.273-2.798) in females and males in further stratified analysis. The risk of children suffering from ASD following emergency CS was apparently increased in males (aOR = 2.390, 95% CI = 1.392-5.207), whereas a higher risk of ASD was observed among voluntary CS and indicated CS subgroups (aOR = 2.167, 95% CI = 1.094-4.291; aOR = 2.919, 95% CI = 1.789-4.765, respectively) in females. Moreover, the interaction term of CS and past miscarriage history (β = - 0.68, Wald χ2 = 7.5, df = 1, p = 0.006)) was similarly defined as influencing ASD.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure of children to GA during CS may explain the possible/emerging association between CS and ASD. In addition, sex and miscarriage history could equally be factors influencing the association between CS and ASD.

Recovery of uterine and ovarian function in patients with complete placenta previa after caesarean delivery: A retrospective study

This retrospective study was designed to explore the recovery of uterine and ovarian function in patients with complete placenta previa (PP) after caesarean delivery (CD). 136 complete placenta previa patients (group completed placenta previa) and 140 patients without complete PP (group non-PP, control group) were included in this study from Jan 2016 to Dec 2018. Subgroup analysis of patients with complete PP was made to determine the impact of different hemostatic methods used during CD on the recovery of uterine function. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in postpartum menstrual cycle changes, ovarian hormone, and uterine vascular supply as measured by pulsatility index and systolic/diastolic ratio (P > .05). However, the group with complete PP had a reduced endometrial thickness (0.47 ± 0.11 vs 0.50 ± 0.12, P < .001), a lower uterine resistance index at 42nd days (0.84 ± 0.03 vs 0.90 ± 0.03, P < .001), and a delayed resumption menstruation (7.07 ± 2.61 vs 5.31 ± 2.16, P < .001) when compared with control group. Subgroup analysis showed that RI index of all subgroups in completed PP group was lower, endometrial thickness was thinner and the time to menstrual recovery was longer than that of non-PP group. In conclusion, the endometrial thickness and blood supply at 42nd days, not ovarian function, maybe affected after CD in patients with complete PP.

Modification of caesarean section on the associations between air pollution and childhood asthma in seven Chinese cities

It is unknown whether giving birth via caesarean section (c-section) is a modifier for the association between air pollution and asthma. From 2012 to 2013, 59,754 children between the ages of 2 and 17 were randomly selected from 94 middle schools, elementary schools and kindergartens in seven Chinese cities for a cross-sectional study. The children's parents or guardians completed questionnaires, from which data on asthma as well as asthma-related symptoms were obtained. Participants' exposure to particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1.0 μm (PM₁), ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and ≤10 μm (PM₁₀) and exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were estimated using random forest models. We used mixed effects logistic regression models and added an interaction term between mode of delivery and ambient air pollution into the model to estimate effect modification from c-sections after appropriate adjustments for potential confounding variables. Among children delivered by c-section, the adjusted ORs for asthma and its symptoms per interquartile range (IQR) increase of PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and NO₂ (1.20 95% CI: 1.07-1.34 to 2.04 95% CI: 1.87-2.24) were significantly higher than those of children delivered vaginally (1.05 95% CI: 0.92-1.19 to 1.33 95%CI: 1.21-1.47). The interactions between c-sections and ambient air pollution were statistically significant for all studied respiratory disorders, except current wheeze. Delivery via c-section may increase the risks of air pollution on asthma and its symptoms in Chinese children.

Magnitude of Cesarean Section Delivery and Its Associated Factors Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Public Hospitals in Northern Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Cesarean section is one of the most common surgeries around the world performed whenever abnormal conditions complicate labour and vaginal delivery, threatening the life or health of the mother or the baby. Although the cesarean section is a safe operation, when it is performed without medical need, it puts mothers and their babies at risk of short- and long-term health problems. However, the factors are not persistent and there is limited information concerning the levels of cesarean section delivery and its associated factors in public hospitals of North Wollo Zone. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of cesarean section and associated factors in hospitals of North Wollo Zone, Northern Ethiopia.

Methods and Materials

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 433 mothers who gave birth in public hospitals of North Wollo Zone, Northern Ethiopia, from March 01 to 30, 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were carried out to identify independent predictors of cesarean section.

Results

The magnitude of cesarean section delivery was 30.9% (95% CI, 26.8–35.3). Being urban resident (AOR=4.04, 95% CI: 2.19–7.45), malpresentation (AOR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.29–5.05), having a previous cesarean section (AOR=9.11, 95% CI: 3.77–22.01) and antepartum haemorrhage (AOR=8.65, 95% CI: 3.82–19.56) were statistically and positively associated with cesarean section delivery.

Conclusion

The magnitude of cesarean section delivery among mothers who gave birth at North Wollo Zone public hospitals was high. Residence, antepartum haemorrhage, having a previous cesarean section, and malpresentation were factors associated with cesarean section. Therefore, health education and giving a clear picture regarding the risks and benefits of cesarean section as well as avoiding unjustified cesarean section delivery should be encouraged.

Effect of a Text Messaging-Based Educational Intervention on Cesarean Section Rates Among Pregnant Women in China: Quasirandomized Controlled Trial

Background

Consensus exists that appropriate regional cesarean rates should not exceed 15% of births, but China’s cesarean rate exceeds 50% in some areas, prompting numerous calls for its reduction. At present, China’s 2016 two-child policy has heightened the implications of national cesarean section trends.

Objective

This study leveraged pervasive cellular phone access amongst Chinese citizens to test the effect of a low-cost and scalable prenatal advice program on cesarean section rates.

Methods

Participants were pregnant women presenting for antenatal care at a clinic in Xi’an, China. Assignment was quasirandomized and utilized factorial assignment based on the expecting mother’s birthday. Participants were assigned to one of the following four groups, with each receiving a different set of messages: (1) a comparison group that received only a few “basic” messages, (2) a group receiving messages primarily regarding care seeking, (3) a group receiving messages primarily regarding good home prenatal practices, and (4) a group receiving text messages of all groups. Messages were delivered throughout pregnancy and were tailored to each woman’s gestational week. The main outcome was the rates of cesarean delivery reported in the intervention arms. Data analysts were blinded to treatment assignment.

Results

In total, 2115 women completed the trial and corresponding follow-up surveys. In the unadjusted analysis, the group receiving all texts was associated with an odds ratio of 0.77 (P=.06), though neither the care seeking nor good home prenatal practice set yielded a relevant impact. Adjusting for potentially confounding covariates showed that the group with all texts sent together was associated with an odds ratio of 0.67 (P=.01). Notably, previous cesarean section evoked an odds ratio of 11.78 (P<.001), highlighting that having a cesarean section predicts future cesarean section in a subsequent pregnancy.

Conclusions

Sending pregnant women in rural China short informational messages with integrated advice regarding both care-seeking and good home prenatal practices appears to reduce women’s likelihood of undergoing cesarean section. Reducing clear medical indications for cesarean section seems to be the strongest potential pathway of the effect. Cesarean section based on only maternal request did not seem to occur regularly in our study population. Preventing unnecessary cesarean section at present may have a long-term impact on future cesarean section rates.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02037087; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02037087.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2015-011016

Differential effects of different delivery methods on progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage between Chinese nulliparous and multiparous women: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Delivery methods are associated with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) both in nulliparous and multiparous women. However, few studies have examined the difference in this association between nulliparous and multiparous women. This study aimed to explore the difference of maternal and neonatal characteristics and delivery methods between Chinese nulliparous and multiparous women, and then examine the differential effects of different delivery methods on PPH between these two-type women.

METHODS

Totally 151,333 medical records of women who gave birth between April 2013 to May 2016 were obtained from the electronic health records (EHR) in a northern province, China. The severity of PPH was estimated and classified into blood loss at the level of < 900 ml, 900-1500 ml, 1500-2100 ml, and > 2100 ml. Neonatal and maternal characteristics related to PPH were derived from the same database. Multiple ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate associations.

RESULTS

Medical comorbidities, placenta previa and accreta were higher in the nulliparous group and the episiotomy rate was higher in the multiparous group. Compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD), the adjusted odds (aOR) for progression to severe PPH due to the forceps-assisted delivery was much higher in multiparous women (aOR: 9.32; 95% CI: 3.66-23.71) than in nulliparous women (aOR: 1.70; 95% CI: 0.91-3.18). The (aOR) for progression to severe PPH due to cesarean section (CS) compared to SVD was twice as high in the multiparous women (aOR: 4.32; 95% CI: 3.03-6.14) as in the nulliparous women (aOR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.40-2.97). However, the (aOR) for progression to severe PPH due to episiotomy compared to SVD between multiparous (aOR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.96-1.62) and nulliparous women (aOR: 1.55; 95% CI: 0.92-2.60) was not significantly different. The (aOR) for progression to severe PPH due to vacuum-assisted delivery compared to SVD in multiparous women (aOR: 2.41; 95% CI: 0.36-16.29) was not significantly different from the nulliparous women (aOR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.40-2.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Forceps-assisted delivery and CS methods were found to increase the risk of severity of the PPH. The adverse effects were even greater for multiparous women. Episiotomy and the vacuum-assisted delivery, and SVD were similar to the risk of progression to severe PPH in either nulliparous or multiparous women. Our findings have implications for the obstetric decision on the choice of delivery methods, maternal and neonatal health care, and obstetric quality control.

Birth and birth-related obstetrical characteristics in southwestern China associated with the current adjustment of family planning policy: a 7-year retrospective study

In China, the adjustment of the family planning policy was expected to increase the number of births and trigger a change in the demographic and obstetrical background of pregnant women. The policy itself, and corresponding background variations of the pregnant mothers, might have various influences on certain birth-related characteristics. Moreover, the adaption of the medical system to the policy needs to be demonstrated. To address these issues, over 50,000 individual records from January 2012 to December 2018 were collected from a large tertiary care centre of southwest China as a representative. The monthly numbers of deliveries and births showed stabilized patterns after remarkable upward trends. Policy-sensitive women, among whom older age and multiparity were typical features, contributed considerably to the remarkable additional births. Indeed, multivariable logistic regression analysis identified the child policy and these two background characteristics as factors influencing CS (caesarean section) rate and certain pregnancy complications or adverse outcomes. After the implementation of the two-child policy, a care provider was faced with fewer but more difficult cases. Briefly speaking, more individual-based studies on family planning policy and more efforts to improve obstetrical service are needed to better guide clinical practice in the new era.

Socio-demographic factors of cesarean births in Nha Trang city, Vietnam: a community-based survey

Background

The cesarean section rate in Vietnam has been increasing especially in urban area. However, limited evidence identified regarding socio-demographic factors of the cesarean section birth. The objective of this study was to determine the current cesarean birth rate and the associated socio-demographic factors among mothers in Nha Trang city, south-central Vietnam.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November in 2016 as part of a Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage survey conducted in 27 communes of Nha Trang city. From each commune, 120 mothers and their children less than 2 years old were randomly selected. Mothers were asked to answer standardized questions regarding socio-demographic information and mode of birth. Multivariate logistic regression was adopted to examine associations between socio-demographic variables and mode of birth.

Results

Of 3148 participants, the number of cesarean births was 1396 (44.3 %). Older maternal age (≥ 30 years old), having another child going to school or kindergarten, monthly income more than 644 USD, gestational weeks at birth over 42 weeks, and low (< 2500 g) or high (≥ 3500 g) birth weight were associated with higher likelihood of cesarean births.

Conclusion

The CS rate obtained in this study was more than twice of what is recommended by the World Health Organization, which is consistent with the previous nation-wide study in Viet Nam. Further monitoring is suggested to examine the non-medical reason for the increased CS rate.

Extending epidural analgesia for intrapartum cesarean section following epidural labor analgesia: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of extending epidural analgesia following epidural labor analgesia for intrapartum cesarean section, and provide a reference for clinical practice.Methods: Data of 1254 singleton parturient who failed trial of epidural labor analgesia and underwent intrapartum cesarean section were retrospectively included. After entering the operating room, parturient were given 3 ml of 1.5% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine 15 µg as a test dose, followed by a dose of 10 ml 0.75% ropivacaine plus 5 ml of 2% lidocaine mixed solution was administered via the epidural catheter. Case data were reviewed and analyzed of cesarean section anesthesia implementation methods, results and maternal and neonatal outcomes.Results: Of the 1254 parturient, 4.7% (59 of 1254) underwent general anesthesia directly, 7.1% (89 of 1254) were given combined spinal and epidural anesthesia, and the other 88.2% (1106 of 1254) underwent extending epidural anesthesia, 3.5% (39 of 1106) of them were given general anesthesia after extending epidural anesthesia failed, and 96.5% (1067 of 1106) parturient have a successful extending epidural anesthesia. Adverse reactions of extending epidural anesthesia: 6.7% (72 of 1067) parturient experienced hypotension and 12.1% (129 of 1067) of nausea and vomiting occurred. For the neonatal Apgar scores at 1 min, eleven of 1254 (0.9%) newborns were between 0 and 3 points, 107 (8.5%) newborns between 4 and 7 points, and 1136 (90.6%) newborns Apgar scores between 8 and 10 point. 24 (1.9%) newborns with Apgar scores between 4 to 7 points at 5 min transferred to the department of neonatology, and the rest 1230 (98.1%) newborns with Apgar scores 8-10 points.Conclusion: Extending epidural analgesia using the well-functioning epidural catheter for epidural labor analgesia might be a reliable and effective anesthetic method for intrapartum cesarean section.

A Segmented Logistic Regression Approach to Evaluating Change in Caesarean Section Rate with Reform of Birth Planning Policy in Two Regions in China from 2012 to 2016

Objective

This study evaluated change in caesarean section rate with reform of birth planning policy in China from one-child to two-child policy.

Methods

Study data were collected from patient-level hospital records of 59,668 pregnant women who visited three major urban hospitals in Jiangsu Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China between January 2012 and December 2016. A segmented logistic regression approach was developed to evaluate the changes in caesarean section rate in these regions with the launch of China's new partial and universal two-child policies in January 2014 and January 2016, respectively.

Results

Jiangsu Province had a significantly lower non-emergency caesarean rate (Jiangsu 8.15% vs Inner Mongolia 34.03%, p < 0.001) and a much lower percentage of minority population (Jiangsu 6.99% vs Inner Mongolia 21.76%, p < 0.001) than Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In Jiangsu Province, no change in caesarean section rate was detected with the two-child policies (all p-values > 0.05), although the unadjusted trend change (0.038, 95% confidence interval or CI: [0.016, 0.060], p < 0.001) in log odds after the implementation of the partial two-child policy was statistically significant. In Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, an immediate jump in caesarean section rate was discovered by the segmented logistic regression with the implementation of both the partial (unadjusted level change 0.297, CI: [0.105, 0.489], p = 0.002) and universal two-child policies (unadjusted level change 1.945, CI: [1.277, 2.614], p < 0.001); but the rate reverted to the previous level thereafter. Ethnicity, maternal age, maternal reproduction history, insurance coverage type, infant weight, and infant gender were the significant factors associated with caesarean section rate (for odds ratios, all p-values < 0.05). However, the significance of infant gender may stem from the large sample size of the study and is not clinically meaningful.

Conclusion

Change in caesarean section rate was not observed with the launch of two-child policy in China.

Reasons for Increased Caesarean Section Rate in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study among Vietnamese Mothers and Health Care Professionals

The Caesarean section rate in urban Vietnam is 43% in 2014, which is more than twice the recommended rate (10%-15%) by the World Health Organization. This qualitative study aims to identify the perceptions of pregnant mothers and health care professionals on the medical and social factors related to the increased Caesarean section rate in Vietnam. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among pregnant mothers and healthcare professionals at two public hospitals in Nha Trang city. A content analysis was adopted in order to identify social and medical factors. As a result, 29 pregnant women and 19 health care professionals were invited to participate in the qualitative interviews. Private interviews were conducted with 10 women who wished to have a Caesarean section, and the others participated in focus group interviews. The main themes of the social factors were 'request for Caesarean section,' 'mental strain of obstetricians,' and 'decision-making process.' To conclude, this qualitative study suggests that there were unnecessary caesarean sections without a clear medical indication, which were requested by women and family members. Psychological fear occurred among women and family, and doctors were the main determinants for driving the requests for Caesarean section, which implies that education and emotional encouragement is necessary by midwives. In addition, a multi-faced approach including a mandatory reporting system in clinical fields and involving family members in antenatal education is important.

Birth preparation acupuncture for normalising birth: An analysis of NHS service routine data and proof of concept

A number of studies show that acupuncture may help with labour and delivery. An NHS maternity acupuncture service providing birth preparation acupuncture has assessed its routine hospital maternity annual data from 2014 to 2016 to see what effect it had on labour and delivery outcomes. The data from this service was analysed and women who had birth preparation acupuncture were compared with those who did not receive it. Maternal age, parity and socio-economic status were considered confounders and were adjusted for in the analysis. Women who received acupuncture had more normal births (less surgical births) [OR 0.76 (0.64, 0.91)], required less intrapartum analgesia [OR 0.74 (0.63, 0.86)], fewer components of an induction of labour [OR 0.74 (0.61, 0.91)] and a reduced length of a hospital stay [OR 0.91 (0.87, 0.95)]. The patients highly valued the availability of acupuncture within the maternity service as it enhanced their patient journey.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Numerous studies provide evidence for the effects of acupuncture in normalising pregnancy and birth. These effects include musculoskeletal preparation of the pelvis, cervical ripening, enhancing endogenous oxytocin release, and analgesic properties.What do the results of this study add? Our analysis shows that women who received birth preparation acupuncture had fewer surgical births, required less intrapartum analgesia, less components of induction of labour and had a reduced length of hospital stay, supporting the use of maternity acupuncture in normalising birth outcomes.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings show that acupuncture, by potentially normalising birth, may lead to reductions in costs of service. Further, additional research is required to see whether acupuncture is cost effective and could have an adjunctive role as a complementary therapy for improving birth outcomes and a woman's experience of childbirth.

Association of China's universal two child policy with changes in births and birth related health factors: national, descriptive comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To measure the association of China's universal two child policy, announced in October 2015, with changes in births and health related birth characteristics.

DESIGN

National, descriptive before-and-after comparative study.

SETTING

Every county in 28 of 31 provinces of mainland China.

PARTICIPANTS

Births included in two national databases: 67 786 749 births from county level monthly aggregated data between January 2014 and December 2017; and 31 786 279 deliveries from individual level delivery information records between January 2015 and December 2017.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Monthly mean number of births and mean proportion of multiparous mothers and mothers aged 35 and over, preterm deliveries, and caesarean deliveries.

RESULTS

The study had two phases: the baseline period (up to and including June 2016, nine months after the policy announcement) and the effective period (from July 2016 to December 2017). The estimated number of additional births attributable to the new policy between July 2016 and December 2017 was 5.40 million (95% confidence interval 4.34 to 6.46). The monthly mean percentage of multiparous mothers and mothers aged 35 and over increased by 9.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval 6.4 to 11.7) and 5.8 percentage points (5.2 to 6.4), respectively. This increase in older mothers, however, was not associated with a concurrent increase in the overall rate of preterm birth. The monthly mean caesarean delivery rate among multiparous mothers increased by 1.2 percentage points (0.8 to 1.6) from 39.7% to 40.9%, and decreased by 3.0 percentage points (-3.5 to -2.5) among nulliparous mothers from 39.6% to 36.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Since its announcement in October 2015, the universal two child policy has been associated with a rise in births in China and with changes in health related birth characteristics: women giving birth have been more likely to be multiparous, and more likely to be aged 35 and over. No evidence of concurrent worsening outcomes (that is, premature births) was seen.

Is age and socioeconomic status associated with preference for birth mode in nulliparous women in China?

PURPOSE

To examine the association between sociodemographic factors and preference for birth mode in nulliparous women in China.

METHODS

A total of 4606 women before or in early pregnancy were recruited from 2013 to 2016 in the Shanghai Birth Cohort Study. Generalized linear regression was used to examine the association of sociodemographic characteristics with preferred birth mode and actual cesarean section (CS) without clinical indications in 2713 nulliparous women, and the changes from preference of vaginal birth to actual CS without clinical indications in 2369 nulliparous women.

RESULTS

After controlling for potential confounders, preference for CS was associated with older maternal age [31-34 years: adjusted risk ratio (ARR) 2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-4.78; ≥ 35 years: 6.27, 3.28-12.01, p for trend < 0.0001] and lower level of education (below junior college vs college or above: 1.51, 1.10-2.09). Older maternal age (≥ 35 years: 3.37, 1.74-6.50), born in city or township (city vs countryside: 3.18, 1.93-5.24; township vs countryside: 1.97, 1.06-3.66), and lower level of education (below junior college vs college or above: 1.38, 1.01-1.88) were significantly associated with a CS without clinical indications. Women who preferred vaginal birth but had an actual CS without clinical indications were more likely to be older (≥ 35 years: 4.30, 1.44-12.83) and born in city (city vs countryside: 2.89, 1.33-6.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Older age, lower education level, and being born in city or township were risk factors for CS without clinical indication in China.

Effects of maternal obesity on the success of assisted vaginal delivery in Chinese women

Background

We examined the influence of pre-pregnancy body weight on the rates of attempted and successfully assisted-vaginal delivery.

Methods

We used 2008–2016 inpatient records including 3408 women who had singleton gestations and needed operative delivery assistance to conduct a retrospective cohort study. Patients were categorized based on pre-pregnancy BMI (normal weight = 18.5 to less than 25 or obese = 30 or greater). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of attempted and successful forceps or vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery by body weight adjusted for marital status, age, gestational age, induction of labor, episiotomy, diabetes, and birth weight.

Results

The proportion of women with attempted either vacuum or forceps was lower among women who were obese pre-pregnancy compared to women who were normal weight. Women with excessive gestational weight gain, large for gestational age neonates, and diabetes were less likely to have a vacuum-assisted or forceps-assisted vaginal delivery attempted. Conversely, women who received labor augmentation or induction, used epidural anesthesia, gained inadequate weight, and delivered a small for gestational age infant were more likely to have a vacuum-assisted or forceps-assisted vaginal delivery attempted. Compared to normal weight women, obese women who received forceps-assisted vaginal delivery were more likely to have a successful vaginal delivery.

Conclusion

Women who had normal weight had higher likelihood to attempt assisted vaginal delivery compared to women who had pre-pregnancy obesity. However, when assisted vaginal delivery was attempted, success rates were higher when forceps-assisted delivery was used compared to vacuum-assisted delivery.

Institutional delivery in India, 2004-14: unravelling the equity-enhancing contributions of the public sector

To achieve faster and equitable improvements in maternal and child health outcomes, the government of India launched the National Rural Health Mission in 2005. This paper describes the equity-enhancing role of the public sector in increasing use of institutional delivery care services in India between 2004 and 2014. Information on 24 661 births from nationally representative survey data for 2004 and 2014 is analysed. Concentration index is computed to describe socioeconomic-rank-related relative inequalities in institutional delivery and decomposition is used to assess the contributions of public and private sectors in overall socioeconomic inequality. Multilevel logistic regression is applied to examine the changes in socioeconomic gradient between 2004 and 2014. The analysis finds that utilization of institutional delivery care in India increased from 43% in 2004 to 83% in 2014. The bulk of the increase was in public sector use (21% in 2004 to 53% in 2014) with a modest increase in private sector use (22% in 2004 to 30% in 2014). The shift from a pro-rich to pro-poor distribution of public sector use is confirmed. Decomposition analysis indicates that 51% of these reductions in socioeconomic inequality are associated with improved pro-poor distribution of public sector births. Multilevel logistic regressions confirm the disappearance of a wealth-based gradient in public sector births between 2004 and 2014. We conclude that public health investments in India have significantly contributed towards an equitable increase in the coverage of institutional delivery care. Sustained policy efforts are necessary, however, with an emphasis on education, sociocultural and geographical factors to ensure universal coverage of institutional delivery care services in India.

Influences of Cesarean Delivery on Breastfeeding Practices and Duration: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Mothers are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months. However, cesarean delivery rates have increased worldwide, which may affect breastfeeding. Research aim: This study aimed to determine the potential effects of cesarean delivery on breastfeeding practices and breastfeeding duration.

METHODS

This was a 6-month cohort study extracted from a 24-month prospective cohort study of mother-infant pairs in three communities in Hunan, China. Data about participants' characteristics, delivery methods, breastfeeding initiation, use of formula in the hospital, exclusive breastfeeding, and any breastfeeding were collected at 1, 3, and 6 months following each infant's birth. The chi-square test, logistic regression model, and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to examine the relationship between breastfeeding practices and cesarean delivery.

RESULTS

The number of women who had a cesarean delivery was 387 (40.6%), and 567 (59.4%) women had a vaginal delivery. The exclusive breastfeeding rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 80.2%, 67.4%, and 21.5%, respectively. Women who had a cesarean delivery showed a lower rate of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding than those who had a vaginal delivery ( p < .05). In addition, cesarean delivery was related with using formula in the hospital and delayed breastfeeding initiation. Cesarean delivery also shortened the breastfeeding duration (hazard ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 1.84]).

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals should provide more breastfeeding skills to women who have a cesarean delivery and warn mothers about the dangers of elective cesarean section for breastfeeding practices.

[Current status of exclusive breastfeeding for the second child and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding in the context of the universal two-child policy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the current status of exclusive breastfeeding for the second child in the context of the universal two-child policy and the factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding.

METHODS

A self-designed questionnaire for the current status of breastfeeding and related factors influencing breastfeeding for the second child were used to survey 836 mothers with a second child, who were selected by cluster sampling, in Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.

RESULTS

A total of 680 usable questionnaires were obtained. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the second child was significantly lower than for the first child (34.9% vs 42.2%; P&lt;0.05). The univariate analysis revealed that there were significant differences between the exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding groups in the mother&prime;s age, education background, occupation and time of maternity leave, mode of delivery of the first child, sex of the first child, feeding pattern of the first child, mode of delivery of the second child, whether the second child was admitted to the intensive care unit, whether the father supported breastfeeding, and whether the grandmother/maternal grandmother supported breastfeeding (P&lt;0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that artificial feeding+partial breastfeeding for the first child (OR=12.286, P&lt;0.05), cesarean section for the second child (OR=1.724, P&lt;0.05), and having no breastfeeding support from the maternal grandmother (OR=1.651, P&lt;0.05) were main factors for influencing exclusive breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The current status of exclusive breastfeeding for the second child is not optimistic in the context of the universal two-child policy. Education about breastfeeding should be taken seriously at the birth of the first child, the rate of cesarean section should be reduced, and the family members should support exclusive breastfeeding, in order to improve the status of exclusive breastfeeding.

Relaxation of the one child policy and trends in caesarean section rates and birth outcomes in China between 2012 and 2016: observational study of nearly seven million health facility births

OBJECTIVE

To examine how the relaxation of the one child policy and policies to reduce caesarean section rates might have affected trends over time in caesarean section rates and perinatal and pregnancy related mortality in China.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

China's National Maternal Near Miss Surveillance System (NMNMSS).

PARTICIPANTS

6 838 582 births at 28 completed weeks or more of gestation or birth weight ≥1000 g in 438 hospitals in the NMNMSS between 2012 and 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Obstetric risk was defined using a modified Robson classification. The main outcome measures were changes in parity and age distributions and relative frequency of each Robson group, crude and adjusted trends over time in caesarean section rates within each risk category (using Poisson regression with a robust variance estimator), and trends in perinatal and pregnancy related mortality over time.

RESULTS

Caesarean section rates declined steadily between 2012 and 2016 (crude relative risk 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 0.93), reaching an overall hospital based rate of 41.1% in 2016. The relaxation of the one child policy was associated with an increase in the proportion of multiparous births (from 34.1% in 2012 to 46.7% in 2016), and births in women with a uterine scar nearly doubled (from 9.8% to 17.7% of all births). Taking account of these changes, the decline in caesarean sections was amplified over time (adjusted relative risk 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 0.84). Caesarean sections declined noticeably in nulliparous women (0.75, 0.73 to 0.77) but also declined in multiparous women without a uterine scar (0.65, 0.62 to 0.77). The decrease in caesarean section rates was most pronounced in hospitals with the highest rates in 2012, consistent with the government's policy of targeting hospitals with the highest rates. Perinatal mortality declined from 10.1 to 7.2 per 1000 births over the same period (0.87, 0.83 to 0.91), and there was no change in pregnancy related mortality over time.

CONCLUSIONS

China is the only country that has succeeded in reverting the rising trends in caesarean sections. China's success is remarkable given that the changes in obstetric risk associated with the relaxation of the one child policy would have led to an increase in the need for caesarean sections. China's experience suggests that change is possible when strategies are comprehensive and deal with the system level factors that underpin overuse as well as the various incentives at work during a clinical encounter.

Reasons for non-exclusive breast-feeding in the first 6 months

BACKGROUND

Maternal sociodemographic, delivery- and infant-related factors as well as hospital practice are relevant for breast-feeding practice. The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic and delivery-related factors that may affect exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) of infants aged 0-6 months in Poland.

METHODS

A total of 446 mothers (18-42 years old) of infants aged 0-6 months were interviewed using the computer-assisted Web interview method. The questionnaire collected information about maternal sociodemographic situation and anthropometrics, delivery-related factors, and infant feeding-related factors. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Predictors of non-exclusive breast-feeding (N-EBF) in the first 6 months of life were assessed on multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 43% of mothers did not breast-feed exclusively (n = 191; N-EBF group) and 57% did breast-feed exclusively during the study period (n = 255; EBF group). After adjustment for other potential risk factors, the highest risk factors for N-EBF were maternal age <20 years (OR, 6.12; P ≤ 0.01), and inadequate breast-feeding knowledge (OR, 3.43; P ≤ 0.01), whereas the lowest risk was associated with pre-pregnancy intention to breast-feed (OR, 0.35; P ≤ 0.01), very good knowledge about breast-feeding (OR, 0.45; P ≤ 0.001) and maternal age 26-30 years (OR, 0.48; P ≤ 0.001). In a multivariate model, maternal education, employment status and preterm delivery were no longer statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast-feeding practice is influenced by a variety of factors, including sociodemographic and psychosocial conditions, maternal obesity and mode of delivery. Further work is needed to establish the role of education and prophylactic programs in modifying the aforementioned risk factors.

Women's cesarean section preferences and influencing factors in relation to China's two-child policy: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study explored women's preference for cesarean section (CS) and the preference for cesarean sections' influencing factors, particularly nonmedical factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in four tertiary hospitals in Hohhot. We recruited 1,169 pregnant women at ≥ 28 gestational weeks and classified subjects into three groups by delivery mode preference: vaginal birth (VB), CS, and "no clear preference". We identified the influencing factors of women's choices by multinomial logistic regression. The adjusted relative-risk ratios (aRRRs) for the factors affecting the preference for CS and "no clear preference" categories and their 95% CIs were computed, using the preference for VB as the reference group.

RESULTS

VB was preferred by 80.3% of the subjects, 8.8% preferred CS, and 10.9% had not decided yet. In the multinomial logistic regression, pregnant women intending to have more than one child were less likely to prefer CS (aRRR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.22-0.61); choosing a lucky day for baby birth was the strongest factor for CS preference (aRRR: 12.36; 95% CI: 6.62-23.08), and other factors for CS preference were being aged 40 years and above (aRRR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.43-12.40), being ethnic minority (aRRR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.41), feeling difficulty in getting pregnant (aRRR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.20, 4.13), and having husband's preference for CS (aRRR: 7.62; 95% CI: 4.00-14.54). The top reasons for preferring CS were the belief that CS was safer (51.5%), associated with less pain (40.8%), and better for baby's and woman's health (24.3% and 22.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Less than one-tenth of the study subjects preferred CS. The cultural beliefs had the strongest influence on the decision of delivery mode. Those intending to have two or more children following the two-child policy were less likely to choose CS.

Association between Cesarean Section and Weight Status in Chinese Children and Adolescents: A National Survey

Previous research on the association between cesarean section (CS) and childhood obesity has yielded inconsistent findings. This study assessed the secular trend of CS and explored the relationship between CS and the risks of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents. Data came from a national multicenter school-based study conducted in seven provinces of China in 2013. Covariate data including weight, height and delivery mode were extracted. Poisson regression was applied to determine the risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risks of overweight and obesity associated with the delivery mode. A total of 18,780 (41.2%) subjects were born by CS between 1997 and 2006. The rate of CS increased from 27.2% in 1997 to 54.1% in 2006. After adjusting for major confounders, the RRs (95% CI) of overweight and obesity among subjects born by CS were 1.21 (1.15 to 1.27) and 1.51 (1.42 to 1.61), respectively. Similar results were observed in different subgroups stratified by sex, age, and region. In summary, the CS rate increased sharply in China between 1997 and 2006. CS was associated with increased risks of overweight and obesity in offspring after accounting for major confounding factors.

Placenta response of inflammation and oxidative stress in low-risk term childbirth: the implication of delivery mode

Background

Caesarean delivery rate is increasing gradually in China and there is no doubt that delivery mode is closely associated with the maternal health and infant development.This study examined the independent effect of delivery mode on placenta inflammation response and oxidative stress response.

Methods

A total of 3474 pregnant women recruited in Ma’anshan Birth Cohort Study were the initial study population. Data on maternal socio-demographic characteristics and pre-pregnancy BMI were collected at their 1st antenatal checkups. Pregnancy-specific anxiety was assessed during the three trimesters of pregnancy. Common pregnant complications were monitored in the whole pregnancy period. Delivery modes, as well as newborn characteristics were abstracted from medical records. Delivery modes included vaginal deliveries (VD), caesarean delivery with medical indications (CDMI), caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) and urgent cesarean delivery (UCD). Placentas were collected during childbirth. The mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNF-a, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-8, and HO-1 were assessed in the final sample of 1978 low-risk women with singleton term-births.

Results

The overall rate of caesarean delivery (CD) was 50.5% (1650/3265) in singleton term childbirths in this study. Among women who reported definite CD reasons, 56.8%of them chose the surgery without any medical indications.It shows a non-linear relationship between cytokines related with placenta inflammatory response, oxidative stress response and different delivery modes. At high percentiles of IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-8, women with CDMR had higher expression levels compared to women with VD. Women with CDMI had higher levels at median percentiles of IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-8. Women with CDMR had higher expression compared with VD at high percentiles of IL-6 and HO-1, and women with CDMI had higher levels of these two cytokines at their low percentiles. It is worth noting that at high percentiles, compared with normal delivery, the expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-8 and HO-1 have significantly altered in women with CDMR.

Conclusion

A high overall CD rate was found in this study, and caesarean delivery on maternal request was the major contributor to the high prevalence. Maternal placental oxidative stress and inflammatory response were closely associated with delivery mode. The effect is much amplified at high levels of expression in women who chose CD on maternal request.Such difference needs to be noticed and may have important implications for obstetricians, midwives and other perinatal health care workers.

Characteristics of private partners in Chiranjeevi Yojana, a public-private-partnership to promote institutional births in Gujarat, India - Lessons for universal health coverage

Background

The Chiranjeevi Yojana (CY) is a Public-Private-Partnership between the state and private obstetricians in Gujarat, India, since 2007. The state pays for institutional births of the most vulnerable households (below-poverty-line and tribal) in private hospitals. An innovative remuneration package has been designed to disincentivise unnecessary cesareans. This study examines characteristics of private facilities which participated in the program.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of all facilities which had conducted any births between June 2012 and April 2013 in three districts. We identified 111 private and 47 public facilities. Ninety of the 111 private facilities did caesarean sections in the last three months and were eligible to participate in the CY program. Of these, 40 (44%) participated in the CY program. We conducted descriptive and bivariate analyses followed by a Poisson regression model to estimate prevalence ratios of facility characteristics that predicted participation.

Results

We found that facilities participating in the CY program had a significantly higher likelihood of being general facilities (PR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.9), or conducting lower proportion of cesarean births (PR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.5) or having obstetricians new in private practice (PR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.1) or being less expensive (PR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.0). But none of these factors retained significance in a multi variable model.

Conclusion

Private obstetricians who participate in the CY program tend to be new to private practice, provide general services, conduct fewer caesareans and are also less expensive. This is advantageous to the PPP and widens the target beneficiary groups that can be serviced by the PPP. The state should design remuneration packages with the aim of attracting relatively new obstetricians to set up practices in more remote areas. It is possible that the CY remuneration package design is effective in keeping caesarean rates in check, and needs to be studied further.

No Pain Labor & Delivery: A Global Health Initiative's Impact on Clinical Outcomes in China

The availability of labor analgesia is highly variable in the People's Republic of China. There are widespread misconceptions, by both parturients and health care providers, that labor epidural analgesia is harmful to mother and baby. Meanwhile, China has one of the highest cesarean delivery rates in the world, exceeding 50%. The goal of the nongovernmental No Pain Labor & Delivery (NPLD) is to facilitate sustainable increases in vaginal delivery rates by increasing access to safe neuraxial labor analgesia, thereby decreasing the cesarean delivery rate. NPLD was launched in 2008 with the stated goal of improving labor outcome in China by increasing the absolute labor epidural analgesia rate by 10%. NPLD established 10 training centers over a 10-year period. We hypothesized that increased availability of labor analgesia would result in reduced requests for cesarean delivery and better labor outcomes for mother and baby. Multidisciplinary teams of Western clinicians and support staff traveled to China for 8 to 10 days once a year. The approach involved establishing 24/7 obstetric anesthesia coverage in Chinese hospitals through education and modeling multidisciplinary approaches, including problem-based learning discussions, bedside teaching, daily debriefings, simulation training drills, and weekend conferences. As of November 2015, NPLD has engaged with 31 hospitals. At 24 of these sites, 24/7 obstetric anesthesia coverage has been established and labor epidural analgesia rates have exceeded 50%. Lower rates of cesarean delivery, episiotomy, postpartum blood transfusion, and better neonatal outcomes were documented in 3 impact studies comprising approximately 55,000 deliveries. Changes in practice guidelines, medical policy, and billing codes have been implemented in conjunction with the modernization of perinatal practice that has occurred concurrently in China since the first NPLD trip in 2008.

Predictors of preference for caesarean delivery among pregnant women in Beijing

Objective

To evaluate factors associated with preference for caesarean or vaginal delivery among pregnant Chinese nulliparous and parous women.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, preference/reasons for delivery mode, and knowledge of delivery complications.

Results

Of the 450 participants, 85 (18.9%) reported a preference for caesarean section (CS) pre-partum. Compared with women who would prefer a vaginal delivery, nulliparous women who preferred CS were more likely to be: ≥35 years; have no medical insurance; have had two or more pregnancies; have access to only one source of information about birthing options; knowledge of the complications of vaginal delivery and think doctors have no right to decide the type of delivery. For parous women who preferred CS, they were more likely to have had a previous caesarean delivery and live outside Beijing.

Conclusions

From this study conducted at a large, maternity centre in Beijing, the proportion of pregnant women with preference pre-partum for CS was moderate and their reasons were varied.

An analysis of variations of indications and maternal-fetal prognosis for caesarean section in a tertiary hospital of Beijing: A population-based retrospective cohort study

In recent decades, we have observed a remarkable increase in the rate of caesarean section (CS) in both developed and developing countries, especially in China. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) systematic review, if the increase in CS rate was between 10% and 15%, the maternal and neonatal mortality was decreased. However, above this level, increasing the rate of CS is no longer associated with reduced mortality. To date, no consensus has been reached on the main factors driving the cesarean epidemic. To reduce the progressively increasing rate of CS, we should find indications for the increasing CS rate. The aim of our study was to estimate the change of CS rate of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and to find the variation of the indications.From January 1995 to December 2014, the CS rate of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital was analyzed. For our analysis, we selected 14,642 and 16,335 deliveries respectively that occurred during the year 2011 and 2014, to analyze the difference of indications, excluding incomplete data and miscarriages or termination of pregnancy before 28 weeks of gestation because of fatal malformations, intrauterine death, or other reasons.The average CS rate during the past 20 years was 51.15%. The highest caesarean delivery rate was 60.69% in 2002; however, the caesarean delivery rate declined to 34.53% in 2014. The obviously different indications were caesarean delivery on maternal request and previous CS delivery. The rate of CS due to maternal request in 2014 was decreased by 8.16% compared with the year 2011. However, the percentage of pregnancy women with a previous CS delivery increased from 9.61% to 20.42% in 3 years. Along with the decline of CS rate, the perinatal mortality and the rate of neonatal asphyxia decreased in 2014 compared with that in 2011.After a series of measures, the CS rate declined indeed. Compared with 2011, the perinatal mortality and the rate of neonatal asphyxia decreased in 2014. Caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) cannot improve the maternal-fetal prognosis compared with the spontaneous vaginal delivery. With the releasing of China's 2 children policy, more CS will be implemented due to previous CS. There is a need for further research that evaluates interventions for increasing VBAC rates that target clinicians.

Determinants and materno-fetal outcomes related to cesarean section delivery in private and public hospitals in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Despite the well-established morbidity, mortality, long-term effects, and unnecessary extra-cost burden associated with cesarean section delivery (CSD) worldwide, its rate has grown exponentially. This has become a great topical challenge for the international healthcare community and individual countries. Estimated at three times the acceptable rate as defined by the World Health Organization in 1985, the continued upward trend has been fuelled by higher income countries. Some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have now taken the lead, and the factors contributing to this situation are poorly understood. The expansion of the private healthcare sector may be playing a significant role. Distinguishing between the public and private hospitals' role is critical in this investigation as it has not yet been approached. This review aims to systematically synthesize knowledge on the determinants of the CSD rate rise in private and public hospitals in LMICs and to investigate materno-fetal and materno-infant outcomes of CSD in perinatal period, between private and public hospitals.

METHODS/DESIGN

We will include studies published in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese since 2000, using any experimental design, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, quasi-experimental, before and after studies, and interrupted time series. Outcomes of interest are the determinants of CSD and materno-fetal and materno-infant outcomes. We will only include studies carried out in private and public hospitals in LMICs. The literature searches will be conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane database, LILACS, and HINARI. We will also include unpublished studies in the gray literature (theses and technical reports). Using the two-person approach, two independent review authors will screen eligible articles, extract data, and assess risk of bias. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third author. Results will be presented as structured summaries of the included studies. If possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted and, subsequently, an analysis for heterogeneity will be implemented.

DISCUSSION

The proposed systematic review of the CSD rate rise will provide up-to-date evidence in regard to differences in proportions, determinants, and materno-fetal and materno-infant outcomes in perinatal period, between private and public hospitals in LMICs. We believe that this knowledge synthesis will help to shed light on the evidence and support evidence-informed decision-making with a view to addressing the issue in LMICs.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42016036871.

Intravaginal Misoprostol for Cervical Ripening and Labor Induction in Nulliparous Women: A Double-blinded, Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Background:

In China, no multicenter double-blinded prospective randomized controlled study on labor induction has been conducted till now. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravaginal accurate 25-μg misoprostol tablets for cervical ripening and labor induction in term pregnancy in nulliparous women.

Methods:

This was a double-blinded, prospective randomized controlled study including nulliparous women from 6 university hospitals across China. Subjects were randomized into misoprostol or placebo group with the sample size ratio set to 7:2. Intravaginal 25-μg misoprostol or placebo was applied at an interval of 4 h (repeated up to 3 times) for labor induction. Primary outcome measures were the incidence of cumulative Bishop score increases ≥3 within 12 h or vaginal delivery within 24 h. Safety assessments included the incidences of maternal morbidity and adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes.

Results:

A total of 173 women for misoprostol group and 49 women for placebo were analyzed. The incidence of cumulative Bishop score increases ≥3 within 12 h or vaginal delivery within 24 h was higher in the misoprostol group than in the placebo (64.2% vs. 22.5%, relative risk [RR]: 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4–6.0). The incidence of onset of labor within 24 h was significantly higher in the misoprostol group than in the placebo group (48.0% vs. 18.4%, RR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2–5.7); and the induction-onset of labor interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group (P = 0.0003). However, there were no significant differences in the median process time of vaginal labor (6.4 vs. 6.8 h; P = 0.695), incidence (39.3% vs. 49.0%, RR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.4–1.5) and indications (P = 0.683) of cesarean section deliveries, and frequencies of maternal, fetal/neonatal adverse events between the groups.

Conclusion:

Intravaginal misoprostol 25 μg every 4 h is efficacious and safe in labor induction and cervical ripening.

Pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain and breast-feeding: a cohort study in China

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) on initiation and duration of infant breast-feeding in a prospective birth cohort study.

DESIGN

Breast-feeding information was collected at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. The association of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG with delayed lactogenesis II and termination of exclusive breast-feeding was assessed with logistic regression analysis. The risk of early termination of any breast-feeding during the first year postpartum was assessed with Cox proportional hazards models.

SETTING

Urban city in China.

SUBJECTS

Women with infants from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort Study (n 3196).

RESULTS

The median duration of any breast-feeding in this cohort was 7·0 months. Pre-pregnancy obese women had higher risks of delayed lactogenesis II (risk ratio=1·89; 95 % CI 1·04, 3·43) and early termination of any breast-feeding (hazard ratio=1·38; 95 % CI 1·09, 1·75) adjusted for potential maternal and infant confounders, when compared with normal-weight women. No differences in breast-feeding initiation or duration of exclusive breast-feeding according to pre-pregnancy BMI were found. Moreover, GWG was not associated with any poor breast-feeding outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicated that pre-pregnancy obesity increases the risks of delayed lactogenesis II and early termination of any breast-feeding in Chinese women.

Beyond too little, too late and too much, too soon: a pathway towards evidence-based, respectful maternity care worldwide

On the continuum of maternal health care, two extreme situations exist: too little, too late (TLTL) and too much, too soon (TMTS). TLTL describes care with inadequate resources, below evidence-based standards, or care withheld or unavailable until too late to help. TLTL is an underlying problem associated with high maternal mortality and morbidity. TMTS describes the routine over-medicalisation of normal pregnancy and birth. TMTS includes unnecessary use of non-evidence-based interventions, as well as use of interventions that can be life saving when used appropriately, but harmful when applied routinely or overused. As facility births increase, so does the recognition that TMTS causes harm and increases health costs, and often concentrates disrespect and abuse. Although TMTS is typically ascribed to high-income countries and TLTL to low-income and middle-income ones, social and health inequities mean these extremes coexist in many countries. A global approach to quality and equitable maternal health, supporting the implementation of respectful, evidence-based care for all, is urgently needed. We present a systematic review of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for routine antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, categorising them as recommended, recommended only for clinical indications, and not recommended. We also present prevalence data from middle-income countries for specific clinical practices, which demonstrate TLTL and increasing TMTS. Health-care providers and health systems need to ensure that all women receive high-quality, evidence-based, equitable and respectful care. The right amount of care needs to be offered at the right time, and delivered in a manner that respects, protects, and promotes human rights.

Why do niches develop in Caesarean uterine scars? Hypotheses on the aetiology of niche development

Caesarean section (CS) results in the occurrence of the phenomenon 'niche'. A 'niche' describes the presence of a hypoechoic area within the myometrium of the lower uterine segment, reflecting a discontinuation of the myometrium at the site of a previous CS. Using gel or saline instillation sonohysterography, a niche is identified in the scar in more than half of the women who had had a CS, most with the uterus closed in one single layer, without closure of the peritoneum. An incompletely healed scar is a long-term complication of the CS and is associated with more gynaecological symptoms than is commonly acknowledged. Approximately 30% of women with a niche report spotting at 6-12 months after their CS. Other reported symptoms in women with a niche are dysmenorrhoea, chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia. Given the association between a niche and gynaecological symptoms, obstetric complications and potentially with subfertility, it is important to elucidate the aetiology of niche development after CS in order to develop preventive strategies. Based on current published data and our observations during sonographic, hysteroscopic and laparoscopic evaluations of niches we postulate some hypotheses on niche development. Possible factors that could play a role in niche development include a very low incision through cervical tissue, inadequate suturing technique during closure of the uterine scar, surgical interventions that increase adhesion formation or patient-related factors that impair wound healing or increase inflammation or adhesion formation.

Caesarean delivery and the risk of offspring overweight and obesity over the life course: a systematic review and bias-adjusted meta-analysis

A causal role of Caesarean delivery (CD) on developing overweight and obesity in the life course of offspring has been postulated. However, the true strength of this association is not clear and the potential for confounding has not been adequately addressed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the strength of this association, this time using a bias-adjusted model in addition to conventional methods. Our search yielded 32 estimates from 14 publications (n = 261,000) for meta-analysis. The pooled analysis of seven estimates (n = 194,463) demonstrated a trend only towards a risk increase (RR = 1.15; 95% CI:0.94, 1.40) in overweight and obesity combined (ow+ob) due to CD in early childhood (0-5 years) and a similar trend was observed for mid-childhood and adolescence (5-18 years). In adulthood, a moderate increase in risk for ow+ob due to CD was observed (n = 30,200) (RR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.02, 1.34). Results for obesity and overweight separately were stronger for obesity and demonstrated a decreasing effect across the three life stages. Conventional methods of analysis suggested less uncertainty than we report and publication bias assessment was strongly suggestive of a bias in favour of positive studies. The current analysis therefore suggests that the small effects seen with CD in this and previous meta-analyses are probably a cumulative consequence of several biases we have outlined, including confounding effect and publication bias.

Exposure to cooking fuels and birth weight in Lanzhou, China: a birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early studies have suggested that biomass cooking fuels were associated with increased risk of low birth weight (LBW). However it is unclear if this reduced birth weight was due to prematurity or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

METHODS

In order to understand the relationship between various cooking fuels and risk of LBW and small for gestational age (SGA), we analyzed data from a birth cohort study conducted in Lanzhou, China which included 9,895 singleton live births.

RESULTS

Compared to mothers using gas as cooking fuel, significant reductions in birth weight were observed for mothers using coal (weight difference = 73.31 g, 95 % CI: 26.86, 119.77) and biomass (weight difference = 87.84 g, 95 % CI: 10.76, 164.46). Using biomass as cooking fuel was associated with more than two-fold increased risk of LBW (OR = 2.51, 95 % CI: 1.26, 5.01), and the risk was mainly seen among preterm births (OR = 3.43, 95 % CI: 1.21, 9.74). No significant associations with LBW were observed among mothers using coal or electromagnetic stoves for cooking.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that exposure to biomass during pregnancy is associated with risk of LBW, and the effect of biomass on LBW may be primarily due to prematurity rather than IUGR.

Poor infant and young child feeding practices and sources of caregivers' feeding knowledge in rural Hebei Province, China: findings from a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVES

To obtain a general overview of infant and young child feeding practices in one rural county in China and identify current delivery channels and challenges.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A rural county, Zhao County, in Hebei Province, China.

PARTICIPANTS

10 clusters were first selected within each township (16 townships in total) with proportional to population size sampling. In each cluster, a name list was used to select 13 children aged 0-23 months. We interviewed caregivers of all the selected children.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES

Coverage of infant feeding practices, reasons for low coverage of infant feeding practices and current delivery channels of infant feeding practices.

RESULTS

Findings from our survey indicated that infant feeding practices were poor. Early initiation of breastfeeding was only 22.4%, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was less than 10% and continued breastfeeding up to the age of two was just 38.2%. Only 32.5% of children were given iron-rich or iron-fortified foods. The leading sources of infant feeding information were family members, neighbours, friends and popular media. Only around 20% of the information came from health facilities and nearly none came from communities. Household property data showed that 99.9% of households owned televisions and 99.4% owned mobile phones. In addition, 61.2% of the households owned computers, with 54.8% having access to the internet.

CONCLUSIONS

Few caregivers of children in Zhao County received feeding information during pregnancy and after delivery. Moreover, their feeding knowledge and practices were poor. Multi-channel approaches, delivered through health facilities, community resources, popular media, the internet and mobile phones, hold potential to improve infant feeding practices and should be explored in future studies.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

Although this study took place only within one county, a full range of globally standard feeding indicators was used to assess the feeding practices of caregivers in our study. The name lists of children in some villages may not be complete, and therefore selection bias may have occurred. Some indicators may have recall bias due to long recall time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR-PRC-11001446.