Mothers of children with major congenital anomalies have increased health care utilization over a 20-year post-birth time horizon.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This population-based, matched cohort study aimed to evaluate utilization of health care services by mothers of children with major congenital anomalies (MCAs), compared to mothers of children without MCAs over a 20-year post-birth time horizon in Denmark.

Methods

Our analytic sample included mothers who gave birth to an infant with a MCA (n = 23,927) and a cohort of mothers matched to them by maternal age, parity and infant's year of birth (n = 239,076). Primary outcomes were period prevalence and mothers' quantity of health care utilization (primary, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, and psychiatric services) stratified by their child's age (i.e., ages 0-6 = before school, ages 7-13 = pre-school + primary education, and ages 14-18 = secondary education or higher).

SUBMITTER: Shah NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8654179 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature