Study Finds Mild to Moderate Risk for Neonatal Complications Among Babies Born to Women with Disabilties

A new study has found there is mild to moderate elevated risk for neonatal complications among newborns of women with disabilities compared to newborns of women without disabilities. The study, “Neonatal Outcomes of Mothers with a Disability,” which will be published in the September 2022 issue of Pediatrics (published online Aug. 8), looked at births in Ontario, Canada. From 2003 to 2018, there were 144,187 newborns delivered to women with a physical disability, 44,988 to women with a sensory disability, 2,207 to women with an intellectual/ developmental disability, 8,823 to women with multiple disabilities, and 1,593,354 to women without any recognized disability. In this large, population-based study, the authors found that newborns of women with disabilities were at increased risk for a range of relatively rare neonatal complications. Elevations in risk were mild to moderate across all disability groups compared to women without a disability, and they were highest for newborns of women with intellectual/developmental and multiple disabilities. Women with disabilities may need customized preconception and prenatal care, and tailored, family-centered supports for their newborns, the authors conclude.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.