Multiple chance events may influence outcome. For
example, an elective cesarean delivery at 38 weeks may
result in the delivery of an iatrogenically premature infant
at risk for respiratory morbidity. On the other hand,
delaying delivery to 39 weeks may result in an unexplained
stillbirth, or spontaneous onset of labor with
intrapartum complications that may compromise maternal
and neonatal well-being. Decision analysis is a quantitative
methodology for evaluating competing strategies
under conditions of uncertainty.