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Assessing the relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes and area-level deprivation in Wales 2014-2019: A national population-based cross-sectional study

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Heather Brown, Professor Clare BambraORCiD, Professor Judith RankinORCiD, Amy McNaughton, Professor Nicola HeslehurstORCiD

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Abstract

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between deciles of area-level deprivation and seven adverse pregnancy outcomes in Wales. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting 64 699 live births in Wales from 31 March 2014 to 16 September 2019. Primary outcome variable We examined each of the following seven adverse pregnancy outcomes: (1) small for gestational age (SGA); (2) large for gestational age; (3) preterm birth; (4) third-degree or fourth-degree perineal tear; (5) major postpartum haemorrhage (MPPH); (6) a lower Apgar score at 5 min and (7) emergency caesarean section. Results There was no significant association between increasing aggregate measures of area-level deprivation and the adverse pregnancy outcomes we studied. Women living in an area with greater access to services are more likely to have a baby that is SGA (1.27, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.49), have a greater likelihood of a perineal tear (1.74, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.61), are significantly less likely to have MPPH (0.79, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.96), have a baby with an Apgar score of 0.26 higher (95% CI 0.22 to 0.29) and are significantly less likely to have an emergency caesarean section (0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.88). Women living in areas with higher employment (0.26, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.36) and better health (0.26, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.35) were less likely to experience perineal tear. Conclusions There was no clear social-spatial gradient in area-level deprivation and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We found a stronger association for individual-level behavioural risk factors than area-level factors. These findings support the benefits that accessible and holistic person-centred care may bring through addressing individual behavioural risk factors. There is a need for improved data completeness and further individual-level data on risk factors such as employment and income to better understand the role which may be played by population-level policies and their pathways to affecting outcomes.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Brown H, Jesurasa A, Bambra C, Rankin J, McNaughton A, Heslehurst N

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMJ Open

Year: 2021

Volume: 11

Issue: 11

Online publication date: 17/11/2021

Acceptance date: 25/10/2021

Date deposited: 13/12/2021

ISSN (electronic): 2044-6055

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052330

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052330

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