The risk of preterm birth in combinations of mental disorder and socioeconomic position among Danish women. (30th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knudsen, C K; Christensen, A M S; Heuckendorff, S; Fonager, K; Overgaard, C
• Is Part Of: European journal of public health. Volume 30(2020)Supplement 5
• Publication Date: 2020-09-30
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Europe -- Periodicals; Public health -- Europe -- Periodicals; 362.109405
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1101-1262

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Inequality in preterm birth is a public health challenge requiring identification of pregnant women at particularly high risk of preterm birth. Therefore, the aim was to estimate the risk of preterm birth in women with different combinations of mental health conditions and socioeconomic position. Methods: Based on Danish registries, we conducted a nationwide cohort study including all first-time mothers giving birth to a singleton liveborn infant in Denmark between 2000 through 2016. We examined the risk of preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) in different combinations of mental health conditions (no, minor, and moderate/severe) and educational level (high, intermediate, and low) in three age strata (<25, 25-30, and >30 years). The relative risk of preterm birth was estimated using Poisson regression with a robust error variance. We measured the attributable proportion to assess additive interaction between the effects of exposures. Results: Of the 415, 523 included first time mothers, 29, 069 (7, 0%) gave birth preterm. The risk of preterm birth increased in combinations of higher degree of mental health conditions, lower degree of educational level, and increasing age. Women aged>30 years with moderate/severe mental health conditions and low educational level had the highest risk of preterm birth (13.7%). The analysis of additive interaction revealed only a limited additional effect of being exposed to mental health conditions and lower educational levels in each age strata. However, positive additive interaction was found between age>30 year and combinations of mental health conditions and educational level. Conclusions: Substantial inequality in preterm birth remains with increasing risk in women with combinations of higher degree of mental health conditions and lower degree of educational level. In the prevention of inequality in preterm birth special attention on women aged>30 years exposed to mental health conditions and lower educational levels is essential