الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Early-term ECS (37-38 weeks) has consistently been associated with increased risks to the neonate, including respiratory morbidity, NICU admission and lengthier hospital stays when compared with ECS at 39-40 weeks.
• Dexamethasone before elective caesarean section at term reduces respiratory distress and admission to a special care baby unit.
• Clinical audit is: a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the review of change.
• Regarding the personal characters it was found the mean of maternal age of the groups was 30 years.
• There was no statistically significant difference as regard to parity and method of calculation of gestational age.
• Repeat cesarean section (CS) was the commonest indication in both groups (57.09%) in the study group and (33.23%) in the control group, and the principle fetal indication was malpresentation in both groups.
• Regarding to frequency of corticosteroids use there were no statistically significant difference as regard to dose of corticosteroids and duration of CS after corticosteroids.
• But there was statistically significant difference as regard to site and reasons for received corticosteroids as in the study groups most of mother received corticosteroids inside the hospital before elective caesarean section while in the control group most of mother received corticosteroids outside the hospital during antenatal Care.
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Summary
• There were no statistically significant difference between both groups as regard to sex and birth weight.
• However women in the control group represented tendency to higher birth weight as the mean of birth weight of the study group was 3100 gm and of the control group was 3300 gm.
• There was statistically significant difference as regard to apgar score where women in the control group represented better neonatal outcome in form of better apgar score in1st min and 5th min.
• Regarding respiratory function neonate in the control group represented better respiratory function in form of less RDS and TTN, this difference was statistically significant.
• Women received corticosteroids represented better neonatal respiratory function in both groups.
• Despite clinical practice guidelines and an ever-growing body of evidence that support the delay of elective cesarean section (ECS) to 39 weeks gestation, recent data of the present audit indicates that between 45% of ECS is performed prior to this.