BACKGROUND: A healthy start to life is a major priority in efforts to reduce health inequalities across Europe, with important implications for the health of future generations. There is limited combined evidence on inequalities in health among newborns across a range of European countries. METHODS: Prospective cohort data of 75 296 newborns from 12 European countries were used. Maternal education, preterm and small for gestational age births were determined at baseline along with covariate data. Regression models were estimated within each cohort and meta-analyses were conducted to compare and measure heterogeneity between cohorts. RESULTS: Mother's education was linked to an appreciable risk of preterm and small for gestational age (SGA) births across 12 European countries. The excess risk of preterm births associated with low maternal education was 1.48 (1.29 to 1.69) and 1.84 (0.99 to 2.69) in relative and absolute terms (Relative/Slope Index of Inequality, RII/SII) for all cohorts combined. Similar effects were found for SGA births, but absolute inequalities were greater, with an SII score of 3.64 (1.74 to 5.54). Inequalities at birth were strong in the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden and Spain and marginal in other countries studied. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the value of comparative cohort analysis to better understand the relationship between maternal education and markers of fetal growth in different settings across Europe.
- MeSH
- hypotrofický novorozenec * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lineární modely MeSH
- matky statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- předčasný porod epidemiologie MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- regresní analýza MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- srovnání kultur MeSH
- stupeň vzdělání MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- výsledek těhotenství epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- metaanalýza MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH