Secular trends in socio-economic status and the implications for preterm birth
Abstract
Summary: The rate of preterm birth in the developed world has been shown to be increasing, in part attributable to obstetric intervention. It has been suggested that this may be a differential increase between socio‐economic groups. We aimed to assess whether the preterm rate in Norway is different in socio‐economic groups defined by maternal education, and to determine the extent to which a difference is attributable to a socio‐economic differential in obstetrical intervention, in terms of caesarean section or induction of labour. We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1980 to 1998 with preterm rate as the outcome and maternal educational level, marital status and obstetric intervention as exposure variables. In multivariable analyses, adjustment was made for maternal age, year of birth and birth order, and secular trends were assessed according to year of birth. The preterm birth rate was highest in the lowest socio‐economic group. An increase of 25.2% in the preterm rate was seen over the observation period. No apparent differential was seen in the increase of the crude preterm rates between socio‐economic groups, although in multivariable analyses there was a significant interaction between socio‐economic group and time, implying a stronger effect of low education towards the end of the observation period attributable to demographic change. In conclusion, the preterm birth rate increased over time, but was mainly due to an increase in obstetric interventions. No closing of the gap between socio‐economic groups was observed.
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Other maternal demographic characteristics associated with preterm birth include low socioeconomic and educational status, low and high maternal ages, and single marital status.
“Other maternal demographic characteristics associated with preterm birth include low socioeconomic and educational status, low and high maternal ages, and single marital status.25, 26, 27”
From Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth (2008) · cites this paper as [27]
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Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth
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“[25] [26] [27] The mechanisms by which the maternal demographic characteristics are related to preterm birth are unknown.”
BackgroundLongitudinal changes in attachment patterns of preterm infants born in a non-Western country
Zengin Akkus, P., Bahtiyar Saygan, B., Ilter Bahadur, E., Ozdemir, G., Celik, H. T., & Ozmert, E. N. (2021) · Infant Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1002/imhj.21906 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Thompson, J. M. D., Irgens, L. M., Rasmussen, S., & Daltveit, A. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- Haukeland University Hospital (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, John M. D.
- Venue
- Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-04-07
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 182-187
- ISSN
- 0269-5022 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-3016
- OpenAlex
- W2145931553
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 10.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- preterm birth, secular trends, socioeconomic status, maternal education, obstetric surgery, cesarean section, labor induction, marital status, Norway
- MeSH terms
- Cesarean Section, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Labor, Induced, Mothers, Norway, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Odds Ratio, Marital Status, Premature Birth
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