Relationship between obesity, ethnicity and risk of late stillbirth: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In high income countries there has been little improvement in stillbirth rates over the past two decades. Previous studies have indicated an ethnic disparity in the rate of stillbirths. This study aimed to determine whether maternal ethnicity is independently associated with late stillbirth in New Zealand.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cases were women with a singleton, late stillbirth (≥28 weeks' gestation) without congenital abnormality, born between July 2006 and June 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. Two controls with ongoing pregnancies were randomly selected at the same gestation at which the stillbirth occurred. Women were interviewed in the first few weeks following stillbirth, or at the equivalent gestation for controls. Detailed demographic data were recorded. The study was powered to detect an odds ratio of 2, with a power of 80% at the 5% level of significance, given a prevalence of the risk factor of 20%. A multivariable regression model was developed which adjusted for known risk factors for stillbirth, as well as significant risk factors identified in the current study, and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>155/215 (72%) cases and 310/429 (72%) controls consented. Pacific ethnicity, overweight and obesity, grandmultiparity, not being married, not being in paid work, social deprivation, exposure to tobacco smoke and use of recreational drugs were associated with an increased risk of late stillbirth in univariable analysis. Maternal overweight and obesity, nulliparity, grandmultiparity, not being married and not being in paid work were independently associated with late stillbirth in multivariable analysis, whereas Pacific ethnicity was no longer significant (adjusted Odds Ratio 0.99; 0.51-1.91).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pacific ethnicity was not found to be an independent risk factor for late stillbirth in this New Zealand study. The disparity in stillbirth rates between Pacific and European women can be attributed to confounding factors such as maternal obesity and high parity.</p

Antenatal care, identification of suboptimal fetal growth and risk of late stillbirth: findings from the Auckland stillbirth study

Introduction: Stillbirth remains an important public health problem in Australia and New Zealand. The role that antenatal care plays in the prevention of stillbirth in high-income countries is unclear. Methods: Cases were women with a singleton, late stillbirth without congenital abnormality, booked to deliver in the Auckland region and born between July 2006 and June 2009. Two controls with ongoing pregnancies were randomly selected at the same gestation at which the stillbirth occurred. Data were collected through interview-administered questionnaires and from antenatal records. Results: One hundred and fifty five of 215 (72%) cases and 310 of 429 (72%) controls consented to take part in the study. Accessing <50% of recommended antenatal visits was associated with a more than twofold increase in late stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio, aOR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.04-6.90) compared with accessing the recommended number of visits. Smallfor- gestational-age (SGA) babies that had not been identified as SGA prior to birth were significantly more at risk of being stillborn (aOR, 9.46; 95% CI, 1.98-45.13) compared with SGA babies that were identified as such in the antenatal period. No relationship was found between type or model of maternity care provider at booking and late stillbirth risk. Discussion: This study reinforces the importance of regular antenatal care attendance. Identification of SGA may be one way by which antenatal care reduces stillbirth

Implementation assessment in confidential enquiry programmes: A scoping review.

Background Response should be a key part of maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) programmes, which include confidential enquiries into maternal deaths. The programmes investigate avoidable factors in maternal deaths and make recommendations for improving maternity care. There is a gap in information on how these recommendations are transformed into practice. Objective To explore the methods used to assess the implementation status of recommendations made in confidential enquiries into maternal deaths and other health outcomes. Data sources We searched PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases and general web for grey literature using the “Arksey and O’Malley framework” in all major scientific databases and search engines. Study selection and data extraction An initial screening was followed by extraction of information using a data chart. Variables in the chart were based on the response component of maternal death and surveillance systems. Synthesis Information collected was summarised using content analysis method. Results We reviewed 13 confidential enquiry systems into maternal deaths. Many confidential enquiries into maternal deaths published reports with their recommendations and dissemination often involved national‐level scientific presentations. Only five reports provided strategies for implementing the recommendations. Follow‐up of previous recommendations was routinely published in only two reports. However, impact assessment of recommendations on other health outcomes was found only in the UK. Conclusion There is a gap in monitoring the response generated by confidential enquiries into maternal deaths. Actions to develop this are therefore needed