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Neonatal asphyxia is associated with maternal, fetal, or healthcare-related factors. Swedish investigators conducted a population-based case-control study to determine specific factors involved when substandard care during labor leads to low Apgar scores (313 cases compared with 313 controls with normal scores, matched for birth year from 2004 to 2006). Participants had normal cardiotocographic recordings at hospital admission; pregnancies were of ≥33 weeks' gestation.
Factors associated with 5-minute Apgar scores <7 included maternal age ≥25, primiparity, previous cesarean delivery, current preterm (33–36 weeks) or postterm (>42 weeks) delivery, and male sex of infant. Factors related to care were induction of labor (adjusted odds ratio, 1.…