• Relationship between healthy eating index and the need for Cesarean delivery
  • Fateme Sheikholmolooki,1 Abolghassem Djazayery,2 Behnood Abbasi,3,*
    1. Department of Nutrition, Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
    2. Professor Emeritus, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    3. Department of Nutrition, Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Unhealthy nutrition during pregnancy has many adverse effects on both the fetus and the mother. One of these adverse effects on the mother is the need for a Cesarean Section (CS) in conjunction with diet. This case-control study showed Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to predict the need for CS in [is covered for blind peer review].
  • Methods: A total of 390 women, were recruited from [is covered for blind peer review]. Their mean age was 28.6 ± 8.2 years. Anthropometric indices were measured based on standard methods, daily physical activity was assessed by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ.S). The diet quality score was derived by using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The HEI was used to assess diet quality. Linear Logistic Regression was used to investigate the relationship between HEI and the odds of CS.
  • Results: There were no significant differences in HEI with odds of cesarean section in crude model (P = 0.092), in the first model (P = 0.304), and in the final model (P = 0.017) after adjusting for confounders.
  • Conclusion: The results showed there were no significant associations between HEI with the odds of CS in the mentioned population.
  • Keywords: diet, healthy, healthy eating index, cesarean section, delivery, obstetric