Caesarean deliveries do not prevent children from developing cerebral palsy despite long-held medical assumptions.
According to Adelaide researchers, caesarean rates have increased from 5% to 33% in Australia over the last 40 years but the incidence of cerebral palsy continues to affect two to two-and-a-half infants in every 1,000 births.
It was formerly believed that low levels of oxygen or trauma at birth was the major cause of cerebral palsy in children and the risk was lowered by caesarean delivery before or during labour.
Researchers are now investigating genetic and environmental factors as the cause of the condition.
Read more at University of Adelaide