The relationship between self-reported emotional health, demographics, and perceived satisfaction with prenatal care.

Aims to describe pregnant women with poor emotional health and the relationship between self-reported emotional health and prenatal care satisfaction. To this end, 1,265 women who delivered a live-born singleton infant were interviewed and information abstracted from prenatal records. Concludes that patient assessment of satisfaction with prenatal care may be related to both self-reported emotional health and delivery of medical care. Identifying and addressing emotional health of prenatal patients may improve compliance with medical recommendations, ultimately improving health outcomes.

Do maternal characteristics and past pregnancy experiences predict preterm delivery among women aged 20 to 34?

OBJECTIVE: To identify key demographic, lifestyle, and medical indicators for preterm births in women aged 20 to 34. METHODS: A population-based, case-control study consisting of 987 women aged 20 to 34, who delivered a liveborn singleton infant at <37 weeks' gestation in Alberta between May 1999 and August 2000. Controls delivered liveborn infant(s) at > or =37 weeks' gestation. Information was obtained from computer-assisted telephone interviews, and the provincial Physician Notice of Stillbirth/Birth database. Analysis included bivariate and logistic regression techniques. RESULTS: Logistic regression modelling indicated that significant risk factors for preterm delivery included poor past pregnancy outcome (odds ratio [OR] 6.4), poor emotional health (OR 1.8), more than 3 years or less than 1 year between pregnancies (OR 1.4 and 1.9, respectively), polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios (OR 4.1), bleeding at greater than 20 weeks' gestation (OR 10.4), malpresentation (OR 2.9), gestational hyper- tension (OR 2.2), and gestational hypertension with proteinuria (OR 4.4). Women who had fewer than 10 prenatal visits, regardless of attending prenatal classes, were at highest risk of preterm delivery (OR 6.7). CONCLUSIONS: In this population of women aged 20 to 34 years, few prenatal visits, poor emotional health prior to pregnancy, and conditions of the current pregnancy were strongly associated with preterm singleton birth.

Is paternal age associated with an increased risk of low birthweight, preterm delivery, and multiple birth?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if paternal age elevates the risk of low birthweight (< 2500g, LBW), preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestation), and multiple gestation among mothers whose age does not predict an elevated risk. DESIGN/METHODS: Population data on birth outcome, maternal age and paternal age was obtained from Alberta Health and Wellness for all births 1990-1996. RESULTS: Among women aged 25 to 29, regardless of parity, there was no linear relationship between paternal age and preterm birth or LBW. However, multiple birth rates increased with increased paternal age (p < 0.01). Among singleton births, advanced paternal age (>50 years) increased the risk of LBW and preterm birth (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Paternal age is not a risk factor for LBW or preterm delivery among low risk women. The increased risk of multiple birth with increased paternal age, regardless of parity, requires confirmation among other populations.