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02/12/2009
Poorer Pregnant Women Suffering
Despite improvements in obstetric care services, women from deprived areas are still more likely to give birth to a very preterm baby compared with mothers from more affluent areas, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Yet survival rates and provision of care was similar for infants from all areas, suggesting that neonatal care provision is equitable.
A finding in contrast to many other areas of health care where socioeconomic inequalities in survival and access to care are common.
These findings highlight an urgent need to better understand the link between deprivation and risk of preterm birth, say the authors.
In developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, preterm birth is a major cause of infant mortality.
The risks of death are highest in those born very preterm (before 33 weeks' gestation) and in those from the most deprived areas.
Little is known, however, about how the survival of very preterm infants varies with deprivation.
So, researchers at the University of Leicester set out to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in survival and provision of neonatal care among very preterm infants in the UK.
They tracked 7,449 very preterm infants born between 1998-2007 in the former Trent region of England from the onset of labour until discharge from neonatal care. A deprivation score was calculated for each infant using postcode data.
The authors point out that the data came only from one English region, which has about 54,000 births a year, representing one in 12 UK births, so the findings can't necessarily be extrapolated to different places.
However, Trent does have a particularly good prospective dataset about births.
Their results show that mothers from the most deprived areas were nearly twice as likely to have a very preterm infant compared to those from the least deprived areas and consequently there were nearly twice as many deaths due to very preterm birth in the most deprived areas.
However, among very preterm infants, survival rates and neonatal care provision showed little variation across all deprivation measures. This suggests that, although socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth rates persist, deprivation does not seem to be a barrier to accessing and receiving neonatal care.
As such, the authors believe that understanding the link between deprivation and risk of preterm birth should be a major research priority.
"It seems highly likely that such work could lead to public health strategies that would reduce the costs not only of neonatal care but also attached to the long term health problems suffered by some of these babies," they concluded.
This study did not look at individual factors such as smoking, ethnicity, and history of previous preterm birth.
They believe that future studies should focus on the interplay between very preterm birth and the wider determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in health.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Yet survival rates and provision of care was similar for infants from all areas, suggesting that neonatal care provision is equitable.
A finding in contrast to many other areas of health care where socioeconomic inequalities in survival and access to care are common.
These findings highlight an urgent need to better understand the link between deprivation and risk of preterm birth, say the authors.
In developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, preterm birth is a major cause of infant mortality.
The risks of death are highest in those born very preterm (before 33 weeks' gestation) and in those from the most deprived areas.
Little is known, however, about how the survival of very preterm infants varies with deprivation.
So, researchers at the University of Leicester set out to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in survival and provision of neonatal care among very preterm infants in the UK.
They tracked 7,449 very preterm infants born between 1998-2007 in the former Trent region of England from the onset of labour until discharge from neonatal care. A deprivation score was calculated for each infant using postcode data.
The authors point out that the data came only from one English region, which has about 54,000 births a year, representing one in 12 UK births, so the findings can't necessarily be extrapolated to different places.
However, Trent does have a particularly good prospective dataset about births.
Their results show that mothers from the most deprived areas were nearly twice as likely to have a very preterm infant compared to those from the least deprived areas and consequently there were nearly twice as many deaths due to very preterm birth in the most deprived areas.
However, among very preterm infants, survival rates and neonatal care provision showed little variation across all deprivation measures. This suggests that, although socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth rates persist, deprivation does not seem to be a barrier to accessing and receiving neonatal care.
As such, the authors believe that understanding the link between deprivation and risk of preterm birth should be a major research priority.
"It seems highly likely that such work could lead to public health strategies that would reduce the costs not only of neonatal care but also attached to the long term health problems suffered by some of these babies," they concluded.
This study did not look at individual factors such as smoking, ethnicity, and history of previous preterm birth.
They believe that future studies should focus on the interplay between very preterm birth and the wider determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in health.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
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21 July 2010
Preterm Births 'More Common' Among Obese
Overweight and obese women are at greater risk of giving birth to a preterm baby, compared with normal weight women, a study published on bmj.com has revealed.
Preterm Births 'More Common' Among Obese
Overweight and obese women are at greater risk of giving birth to a preterm baby, compared with normal weight women, a study published on bmj.com has revealed.
05 December 2013
Birth Rate Doubles In Least Deprived Areas
Twice as many woman are giving birth in the most deprived areas of England when compared to the least deprived areas, according to new figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). The rate of hospital delivery to women living in the deprived areas in England was 37.2 per 1,000 population, compared to 18.
Birth Rate Doubles In Least Deprived Areas
Twice as many woman are giving birth in the most deprived areas of England when compared to the least deprived areas, according to new figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). The rate of hospital delivery to women living in the deprived areas in England was 37.2 per 1,000 population, compared to 18.
07 October 2013
Disabled People Deprived Of Essential Care, Charity Claims
Two-thirds of local councils are commissioning 15-minute visits despite major concerns they deprive disabled people of essential care, according to a new report by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. Over the past five years the proportion of visits of 15 minutes or less has risen by 15%.
Disabled People Deprived Of Essential Care, Charity Claims
Two-thirds of local councils are commissioning 15-minute visits despite major concerns they deprive disabled people of essential care, according to a new report by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. Over the past five years the proportion of visits of 15 minutes or less has risen by 15%.
21 January 2013
Rising Birth Rate Putting Strain On NHS
Midwives have warned that the increasing birthrate is putting the NHS under pressure. 688,120 babies were born in England in 2011, the highest figures since 1971. As the Office for National Statistics suggest 2012 will be another record-breaking year, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have said hospital services are struggling to keep up.
Rising Birth Rate Putting Strain On NHS
Midwives have warned that the increasing birthrate is putting the NHS under pressure. 688,120 babies were born in England in 2011, the highest figures since 1971. As the Office for National Statistics suggest 2012 will be another record-breaking year, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have said hospital services are struggling to keep up.
16 May 2012
Government Announce Plans For Improved Midwife Care
News plans to tackle postnatal depression have been announced by the government, as part of this mothers will receive one-to-one care from a named midwife during labour and. Women who have a miscarriage or stillbirth and parents who are forced to cope with the death of a baby will also be offered increased support from the NHS.
Government Announce Plans For Improved Midwife Care
News plans to tackle postnatal depression have been announced by the government, as part of this mothers will receive one-to-one care from a named midwife during labour and. Women who have a miscarriage or stillbirth and parents who are forced to cope with the death of a baby will also be offered increased support from the NHS.
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