Variations in very preterm birth rates in 30 high-income countries: are valid international comparisons possible using routine data?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Concerns about differences in registration practices across countries have limited the use of routine data for international very preterm birth (VPT) rate comparisons.

Design

Population-based study.

Setting

Twenty-seven European countries, the United States, Canada and Japan in 2010.

Population

A total of 9 376 252 singleton births.

Method

We requested aggregated gestational age data on live births, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy (TOP) before 32 weeks of gestation, and information on registration practices for these births. We compared VPT rates and assessed the impact of births at 22-23 weeks of gestation, and different criteria for inclusion of stillbirths and TOP on country rates and rankings.

Main outcome measures

Singleto

SUBMITTER: Delnord M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5346062 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature