Association of weekend delivery with adverse neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pratima Pandey, Muhammed Shabil, Huma Sulthana et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of weekend deliveries on neonatal outcomes across various healthcare settings. It included nine high-quality studies and found that weekend delivery was significantly associated with increased odds of neonatal intensive care unit admission (aOR 1.199) and preterm birth in high-risk populations, while the association with neonatal mortality was not statistically significant.
Key findings
- Weekend delivery was associated with a 19.9% increase in odds of NICU admission (aOR 1.199).
- There was a 7.8% increase in odds of maternal obstetric infection (aOR 1.078).
- Weekend delivery was linked to a 63.2% increase in odds of preterm birth in high-risk populations (aOR 1.632).
- Neonatal mortality showed a 4.5% increase in adjusted odds, but this was not statistically significant (aOR 1.045).
Why it matters
The findings highlight the ongoing disparities in neonatal morbidity associated with weekend deliveries, suggesting that healthcare systems may need to address staffing and resource allocation during off-hours to enhance maternal and neonatal safety.