Abstract 73
Aims: To examine temperament and behavioural outcomes in VP infants in relation to repeated a/n CS courses. Design: Prospective cohort of all surviving singleton VP infants liveborn in WA 1/1/90 - 30/6/92. Factors Examined: demographic/obstetric history, a/n CS courses, neonatal course; in 1st year: infant temperament, maternal assessment; at 3 years: Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Results: 262 of 543 survivors received a/n CS; 67 (12%) had multiple courses. There was no effect of repeated a/n CS on temperament or the mother's assessment of her infant as being difficult in 1st year. At 3 years behaviour problems increased with increasing a/n CS on both externalising subscale-CBCL (>90%) and the distractibility subscale-PSI (>90%). Adjusted Rel. Risk for ≥3 a/n CS 4.1(95%CI 2.5,6.7) and 4.3 (2.7,6.7) respectively. CBCL total and internalising scores showed no differences. Conclusions: Repeated a/n CS courses are associated with a significantly increased risk of problem behaviour in the child at 3 years. The safety of a/n CS, proven for a single course, has yet to be demonstrated for repeated courses.
