Timing of Term Births and Associated Mortality Risks: Ecological Analysis Across 28 European Countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore term mortality rates in relation to rates of early-term birth (gestational ages 37 + 0 to 38 + 6 weeks), regarded as a proxy indicator of practices of elective birth by induction or caesarean.

Design

Ecological study using national birth data.

Setting

28 European countries.

Population

Births ≥ 37 weeks between 2015 and 2020.

Methods

Aggregated data on live and stillbirths by completed week of gestation was compiled from routine sources in the Euro-Peristat network. Countries were divided into three groups based on their percentages of early-term births using terciles (high, medium and low) and mortality rates were compared between groups with random-effects meta-analysis of proportions.

Main outcome measures

Stillbirths (antep

SUBMITTER: Gunnarsdottir J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12411659 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature