Table 1 Characteristics of the study population
Total% (N)Vaginal delivery% (N)Caesarean section% (N)
All100 (2917)91.5 (2670)8.5 (247)
Gender
    Girls48.8 (1425)49.4 (1318)43.3 (107)
Birth weight
    <2500 g2.8 (80)2.0 (53)10.9 (27)
    2500–4500 g93.7 (2734)94.8 (2531)82.2 (203)
    >4500 g3.5 (103)3.2 (86)6.9 (17)
Gestational age (weeks)
    <320.3 (8)0.1 (3)2.0 (5)
    32–364.1 (118)3.8 (100)7.3 (18)
    37–4174.2 (2164)75.2 (2006)64.0 (158)
    >4121.4 (625)20.9 (559)26.7 (66)
Intrauterine growth restriction
    <10th percentile0.9 (27)0.6 (16)4.4 (11)
Number of respiratory infections in the first year
    049.2 (1426)49.2 (1304)49.4 (122)
    1–237.4 (1084)37.4 (990)38.1 (94)
    ⩾313.4 (386)13.4 (355)12.5 (31)
Maternal education
    Low20.7 (605)20.3 (542)25.5 (63)
    Intermediate41.7 (1215)41.9 (1120)38.5 (95)
    High37.6 (1097)37.7 (1008)36.0 (89)
Mother’s job
    Employed63.0 (1832)62.6 (1668)66.7 (164)
    Self-employed4.8 (141)4.6 (122)7.7 (19)
    Housewife26.8 (779)27.3 (727)21.1 (52)
    Unemployed5.4 (157)5.5 (146)4.4 (11)
Maternal smoking during pregnancy
    Yes11.9 (348)12.0 (319)11.7 (29)
No of older siblings
    050.0 (1455)48.8 (1273)73.7 (182)
    135.8 (1041)37.0 (984)23.1 (57)
    ⩾214.2 (412)15.2 (404)3.2 (8)
Parents with allergy
    051.3 (1495)51.4 (1371)50.2 (124)
    139.6 (1156)39.6 (1058)39.7 (98)
    29.1 (266)9.0 (241)10.1 (25)