• MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Longitudinal Studies MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Child Welfare * MeSH
• Social Environment * MeSH
• Socioeconomic Factors MeSH
• Pregnancy * MeSH
• Child Development * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Pregnancy * MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

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.

• Keywords
• CHILD HEALTH, EPIDEMIOLOGY, INEQUALITIES,
• MeSH
• Infant, Small for Gestational Age * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Linear Models MeSH
• Mothers statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Premature Birth epidemiology   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Cross-Cultural Comparison MeSH
• Educational Status MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Pregnancy Outcome epidemiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe epidemiology   MeSH