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. 2017 Jul;10(3):376-381.
doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Apr 6.

Time trends in births and cesarean deliveries among women with disabilities

Willi Horner-Johnson  1 , Frances M Biel  2 , Blair G Darney  3 , Aaron B Caughey  2
Affiliations

Time trends in births and cesarean deliveries among women with disabilities

Willi Horner-Johnson et al. Disabil Health J. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Although it is likely that childbearing among women with disabilities is increasing, no empirical data have been published on changes over time in the numbers of women with disabilities giving birth. Further, while it is known that women with disabilities are at increased risk of cesarean delivery, temporal trends in cesarean deliveries among women with disabilities have not been examined.

Objective: To assess time trends in births by any mode and in primary cesarean deliveries among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked vital records and hospital discharge data from all deliveries in California, 2000-2010 (n = 4,605,061). We identified women with potential disabilities using ICD-9 codes. We used descriptive statistics and visualizations to examine time patterns. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between disability and primary cesarean delivery, stratified by year.

Results: Among all women giving birth, the proportion with a disability increased from 0.27% in 2000 to 0.80% in 2010. Women with disabilities had significantly elevated odds of primary cesarean delivery in each year, but the magnitude of the odds ratio decreased over time from 2.60 (95% CI = 2.25 = 2.99) in 2000 to 1.66 (95% CI = 1.51-1.81) in 2010.

Conclusion: Adequate clinician training is needed to address the perinatal care needs of the increasing numbers of women with disabilities giving birth. Continued efforts to understand cesarean delivery patterns and reasons for cesarean deliveries may help guide further reductions in proportions of cesarean deliveries among women with disabilities relative to women without disabilities.

Keywords: Birth; Cesarean; Hospital discharge data; People with disabilities; Time trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of all births (N=5,432,433) in which the mother had a documented disability diagnosis by year (California, 2000–2010)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of nulliparous births (N=2,126,378) and multiparous births (N=3,299,831) in which the mother had a documented disability diagnosis by year (California, 2000–2010)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent of primary cesarean deliveries by disability and year. (Analytic sample is women without prior cesarean delivery, N=4,605,061).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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