Comparison of Apgar score in new born by vaginal delivery and spinal anesthesia and its relationship with contributing factors

Introduction: Apgar score evaluation is a common method to evaluate physiological changes of newborns and can help to predict the neonatal life chance. This study was conducted to determine the Apgar score of newborns with two methods of vaginal delivery and spinal anesthesia and its relationship with the associated factors in Gorgan health care facility. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was design to conduct the research. Totally 215 cases were selected, including all records of patients during 2010 and Apgar score was checked in the first and fifth minutes. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: Results showed that 92.5 and 94 percent of neonatal Apgar scores in the first and fifth minutes were more than seven, respectively. There were no significant statistical differences between Apgar scores of the first and fifth minutes in two methods of vaginal delivery and cesarean section under spinal anesthesia technique (P 0.05). However, premature newborns, those with low birth weight and maternal preeclampsia had lower Apgar scores, and their statistical differences were significant (P 0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate the effect of factors such as prematurity, low birth weight, maternal preeclampsia on low Apgar score at birth of the babys. It is important that problems affecting the baby s health care measures must be considered by the planners of the health of mother and child.