Children born by Caesarean section have a higher risk of developing autism, a new scientific study from Ireland has found published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
The University College Cork team reviewed statistics from several countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and Sweden, before finding that cesarean delivery increased the risk ofautism by 23% on average.
However, Professor Louise Kenny, gynecologist-obstetrician co-author of the study, wished to qualify these results:
“Parents can be reassured that a child’s overall risk of developing a TSA (autism spectrum disorder) is very mild, and a cesarean section is generally a very safe procedure, which, when medically indicated, can be life-saving. “
Too frequent cesarean sections?
Eileen Curran, lead author of the study, said the link between the type of childbirth and the psychological development of the child remains complex.
“When we see the increase in the number of caesareans around the world, these data deserve additional studies, carried out on larger populations, in order to reduce the potential aggravating factors, and to explore the causal mechanisms. “
While the link between caesarean section and autism is not yet clear, the study highlights the potential risks of this type ofchildbirth.
According to the World Health Organization, only 10 to 15% of deliveries should be by cesarean section.
Outside of France, 28% of Caesarean sections could be avoided, according to a study byInserm published in August 2014. In Ireland, more than a third of babies are born by Caesarean section.
While a cesarean section appears to be the best option for the health of both mother and baby in the short term, it could well lead to significant social and psychological consequences for the child in the long term.