Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2024.63.03-04.27
Prenatal and Obstetric Risk Factors for Development of Disabilities in Childhood
Ksenija Romstein
orcid.org/0000-0001-6540-0273
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek Faculty of Education, Osijek, Croatia
*
Dubravko Habek
orcid.org/0000-0002-7675-7064
; University Hospital “Merkur“; Catholic University of Croatia, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Tena Velki
orcid.org/0000-0002-9529-8959
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek Faculty of Education, Osijek, Croatia
Maja Košuta Petrović
; Osijek University Hospital Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osijek, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The main objective was to analyze prenatal and obstetric risk factors in relation
to the development of disabilities. For that purpose, data on medication, i.e., use of benzodiazepines
during pregnancy, gestational weeks, mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean section), duration of
delivery, and fetal presentation were retrieved from medical records and semi-structured interviews
with mothers/legal guardians. Trained professionals clinically assessed the children’s developmental
status (N=107). Fisher exact test with post hoc analysis of standardized residuals showed that a
statistically significant number of children with multiple disabilities were born by cesarean section
(z=3.7, p<0.001), prematurely (z=4.8, p<0.001), and by mothers using benzodiazepines (z=2.6,
p<0.01). Children with autism spectrum disorders were more often delivered post-term (z=2.0,
p<0.05) by induced delivery (z=2.9, p<0.01). Children with developmental coordination disorder
were more often born post-term (z=2.2, p<0.05). As for the duration of delivery and fetal presentation,
there was no statistically significant correlation with developmental disabilities. There is
a cumulative risk of developmental disabilities rather than just a single risk factor. More interdisciplinary
and longitudinal research on developmental disabilities, including children’s educational
outcomes should be conducted.
Keywords
Causality; Developmental disabilities; Parturition; Pregnancy; Risk factors
Hrčak ID:
333284
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2024.
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