These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: [Perinatal variables and health inequalities in a health-care district in Cáceres, Spain].
    Author: Rebollo AG, Montero CM.
    Journal: Gac Sanit; 2000; 14(1):31-8. PubMed ID: 10757860.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relation between perinatal variables (gestational, neonatal, demographic, and social) at time of delivery. To evaluate differences between rural and urban areas --and differences between social status within these areas-- as an approach to studying health inequality. To identify variables associated with the risk of prematurity and low birth weight from onset of pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective study was made of deliveries in a 4-year period (1993-1996) in a health-care district of the province of Cáceres (Spain) (population: 176,511 inhabitants). Data were obtained from hospital records (N = 5922 deliveries). Gestational (mother's age, multiparity), neonatal (sex, birth weigh, weeks of gestation, twin birth), and sociodemographic variables (mother's place of residence and social rank) were studied. A logistical regression analysis was made to identify the main risk factors. RESULTS: The percentage of infants with birth weight less than 2800 g (16.92%) or less than 2500 g (7.80%), and of preterm births (6.16%) in the health-care district of Cáceres were higher than those reported for other studies made in Spain and elsewhere. The risk of low birth weight (<2800 g) was greater for twin births (OR = 16.50; IC 95%: 9.67-28.15); female infants (OR = 1.36; IC 95%: 1.19-1.56), adolescent mothers (<20 years: OR = 1.54; IC 95%: 1.14-2. 09), older mothers (>35 years: OR = 2.12; IC 95%: 1.41-3.17), and first pregnancies (OR = 1.25, IC 95%: 1.09-1.44). The mother's social status was a risk factor for urban marginal groups compared with non-marginal groups (OR = 1.43, IC 95%: 1.12-1.82). The risk of preterm birth depended mainly on the mother's age and was greater in adolescents (OR = 1.84, IC 95%: 1.17-2.89) and older women (OR = 3. 08, IC 95%: 1.81-5.24), as well as for twin births (OR = 10.47; IC 95%: 6.49-16.89). Women in marginal urban groups had the highest rates of multiple pregnancies and adolescent pregnancies. Women in non-marginal urban areas had the highest rate of first pregnancies in older women. Women in rural areas showed intermediate characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of low-birth-weight or preterm newborns and of adolescent mothers was greater in women of lower socioeconomic level. The greatest differences in perinatal variables were observed in urban areas (marginal vs. non-marginal groups) and between regions and countries.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]