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Influence of maternal age, parity and social class on perinatal mortality in Scotland: 1960–82

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

J. F. Forbes  and
R. M. Pickering
J. F. Forbes
Affiliation:
Social Paediatric and Obstetric Research Unit, University of Glasgow
R. M. Pickering
Affiliation:
Social Paediatric and Obstetric Research Unit, University of Glasgow
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Summary

This paper examines secular changes in the influence of maternal age, parity and social class on perinatal mortality in Scotland. Despite changes in reproductive behaviour, improved access to maternity services and more effective perinatal care, the influence of maternal age and social class on perinatal mortality remained unchanged between 1960 and 1982. Although there were no significant changes in the traditional J-shaped association between parity and stillbirths, cross-sectional analysis shows that in the early 1980s the risk of both neonatal and perinatal deaths decreased as parity increased: this finding is consistent with the pattern of risks observed in longitudinal studies and retrospective surveys of reproductive histories. The stability of age, parity and social class effects thus suggests that little if any of the overall decrease in Scottish perinatal mortality can be attributed to a significant narrowing of relative risks in the obstetric population.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 1985 , pp. 339 - 350
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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