Association of cesarean section delivery with childhood behavior: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Objective: This review will evaluate the association between cesarean section delivery and child behavior problems. Introduction: Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries account for over 30% of deliveries in Canada and 21% of all births globally. Mode of delivery via C-section has been associated with altered maternal mental health in the postpartum period, and postpartum depression is linked to an increased risk of internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children. Given the high rates of C-section deliveries worldwide, it is important to determine how mode of delivery impacts child behavior. Inclusion Criteria: The review will examine child behavior outcomes among preschool and school-aged children as determined by medical diagnosis or a standardized assessment tool. Multiple gestation pregnancies and pre-term delivery will be excluded. Methods: A search will be conducted using APA PsycINFO (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Scopus. This review will evaluate peer-reviewed primary observational research studies specifically looking at C-section delivery. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-text studies to determine alignment with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data will be recorded using the standardized JBI data extraction tool and will be presented using figures, tables, and a summary. Where feasible, we will conduct a meta-analysis and subgroup analysis of suitable populations. Critical appraisal of studies will be performed for included studies. The certainty of the evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022371294