First Health Profile for Pregnant Women Shows Clear Social Inequalities in Wellbeing and Health
A new study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the health, wellbeing and health behaviors of pregnant women in Denmark. The results show that most pregnant women avoid alcohol and cigarettes – but also that there are significant sociodemographic differences in health.
The study is based on responses from nearly 35,000 women, who in the first part of their pregnancy completed a questionnaire with a wide range of questions about their health, wellbeing and health behavior. Data were collected at six maternity wards in three regions – the Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand and the Region of Southern Denmark – and supplemented with register data from across the country.
The study show, among other things, that many women quit smoking once they discover they are pregnant, explains Senior Adviser Tina Harmer Lassen from the National Institute of Public Health:
“While almost 13 percent smoked when they became pregnant, only around 3 percent continue to smoke in the first part of pregnancy. In addition, about 2 percent report that they currently drink alcohol during pregnancy.”
The study was carried out by the National Institute of Public Health in collaboration with Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Capital Region of Denmark.
Sociodemographic differences
According to Tina Harmer Lassen, the data reveal clear sociodemographic differences. For example, almost one in five (18.4 percent) of women with a primary school education as highest completed educational level smoke during pregnancy, while the prevalence of smoking is very low among women with a long-cycle higher education. This pattern occurs throughout the study.
“Overall, the health profile shows clear sociodemographic differences across a range of areas related to health, wellbeing and health behaviors. It is especially women with a primary school education who have a higher prevalence of risk factors, compared to women with a long-cycle higher education,” says Tina Harmer Lassen.
For instance, pregnant women with a primary school education more frequently have poor wellbeing, they are more likely to lack social support, and they are less likely to take dietary supplements such as folic acid, vitamin D, or to consume milk, dairy products or calcium supplementation daily.
Poorer health outcomes
The differences also show up in health outcomes. Almost 9 percent of women with a primary school education have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, compared to 4 percent among those with a long-cycle higher education.
The inequality is also evident in self-rated health. Nearly 7 percent of women with a primary school education describe their health as fair or poor, while only about 2 percent of women with a long-cycle higher education do the same.
Furthermore, the study shows that one in four women with a primary school education had obesity before pregnancy, compared to 8 percent among women with a long-cycle higher education.
Higher binge-drinking
A certain finding relates to alcohol. While only about 2 percent report drinking alcohol during pregnancy, one in five say they have at some point during pregnancy consumed five or more drinks on a single occasion – also known as binge drinking. This estimate also includes alcohol consumption in the early weeks of pregnancy, before the women knew they were pregnant.
Here it is the women with a long-cycle higher education who top the statistic: 21 percent report having engaged in binge-drinking at some point during pregnancy, compared to 12 percent among women with a primary school education.
Tool for targeted prevention
According to Tina Harmer Lassen, the health profile can help identify the groups of pregnant women who are at higher risk of complications in the short and long term – for both mother and child:
“The study can serve as a tool to plan and target preventive and health-promoting initiatives for pregnant women in Denmark.”
The health profile has been funded by the Centre for Childhood Health.
Today, an additional report focusing specifically on the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women is also released. This report has been prepared by the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Capital Region of Denmark, in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health.
Contact: Senior Adviser Tina Harmer Lassen, e-mail: tihar@sdu.dk, tel.: +45 6550 7820; Research Director Anne Illemann Christensen, e-mail: anch@sdu.dk, tel.: +45 6550 7773, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark.