title: Comparative analysis of neonatal morbidity for vaginal and caesarean section deliveries using hospital charge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the neonatal morbidity of alternative modes of delivery using economic data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of neonatal morbidity data were extracted according to mode of delivery from inpatient claims on National Health Insurance in Taiwan: uncomplicated vaginal and caesarean section deliveries. Outcome variables included number of infants treated as inpatients, duration of hospital stay, and hospital charge during both the first month and the first year of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uncomplicated caesarean section delivery of term infants carried a significant increase either in the first month of life or during the first year after birth in both duration of hospital stay and hospital discharge when compared with uncomplicated vaginal delivery. Neonatal jaundice accounted for the greatest morbidity among term newborns, irrespective of delivery mode, followed by infectious, gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that uncomplicated vaginal delivery was associated with skin diseases. Uncomplicated caesarean section delivery was associated with infectious disease and disease of the respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study may provide further information for clinicians and would be an important consideration when advising pregnant women on the preferred route of delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Hsing
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chin-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Chie-Pein
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Suchuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001719:Birth Certificates; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology