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Changes in Maternal Characteristics in Nova Scotia, Canada from 1988 to 2001

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Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 July 2005

Abstract

Background

Maternal characteristics such as age, parity, smoking status, pre-pregnancy weight and pregnancy weight gain have changed in many industrialized countries in recent years. Many of these changes have not been adequately described at a population level. The purpose of this study was to describe recent trends in selected maternal characteristics in Nova Scotia.

Methods

Data from a population-based perinatal database were used to examine changes in maternal age, parity, smoking, pre-pregnancy weight, delivery weight and pregnancy weight gain among all deliveries between 1988 and 2001.

Results

The proportion of deliveries to women ≥35 years increased by 84% over the study period from 7.0% in 1988–1991 to 12.9% in 1998–2000, while deliveries to women ≥40 years increased by more than 100%. The number of nulliparous women ≥35 years also increased significantly. The overall prevalence of smoking decreased from 32.7% in 1988–1991 to 25.1% in 1998–2001, however the prevalence of smoking among women ≤20 years did not change over the study period and was almost 50%. The proportion of women with a pre-pregnancy weight of ≥90 kilograms (kg) increased by 165% from 4.1% in 1988–1991 to 10.7% in 1998–2001. The proportion of women with pregnancy weight gain of ≤7 kg and ≥18 kg increased by 37% and 13%, respectively.

Conclusion

Dramatic changes have occurred in several important maternal characteristics and there is evidence of ongoing change. Continuation of these trends is likely to impact on future obstetric practice and perinatal health.

Résmé

Contexte

Les caractéristiques maternelles comme l’âge, le rang des naissances, l’usage du tabac, le poids avant la grossesse et le gain de poids durant la grossesse ont changé dans de nombreux pays industrialisés ces dernières années. Beaucoup de ces changements n’ont pas été convenablement décrits pour l’ensemble de la population. Notre étude visait donc à décrire les tendances récentes de certaines caractéristiques maternelles en Nouvelle-Écosse.

Méthode

À partir de données extraites d’une base de données périnatales représentatives, nous avons examiné l’évolution de l’âge des mères, du rang des naissances, du tabagisme, du poids avant la grossesse, du poids à l’accouchement et du gain de poids durant la grossesse pour tous les accouchements survenus entre 1988 et 2001.

Résultats

La proportion de femmes de plus de 35 ans ayant accouché a augmenté de 84 % sur la période de l’étude, passant de 7,0 % en 1988–1991 à 12,9 % en 1998–2000, et la proportion des femmes de plus de 40 ans ayant accouché a augmenté de plus de 100 %. Le nombre de nullipares de plus de 35 ans a également augmenté. La prévalence globale du tabagisme a diminué, passant de 32,7 % en 1988–1991 à 25,1 % en 1998–2001, mais elle est restée inchangée chez les femmes de moins de 20 ans, à près de 50 %, pendant cette période. La proportion des femmes pesant plus de 90 kg avant la grossesse a augmenté de 165 %, passant de 4,1 % en 1988–1991 à 10,7 % en 1998–2001. La proportion des femmes ayant pris moins de 7 kg ou plus de 18 kg durant la grossesse a augmenté de 37 % et de 13 %, respectivement.

Conclusion

Plusieurs caractéristiques maternelles importantes ont changé de façon spectaculaire, et les données semblent faire état d’une évolution continue. Si ces tendances se maintiennent, elles pourraient avoir un effet sur la pratique future de l’obstétrique et sur la santé périnatale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, 5850/5980 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada

    Deshayne B. Fell MSc, K. S. Joseph MD, PhD & Linda Dodds PhD

  2. Neonatal Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

    Alexander C. Allen MD & Krista Jangaard MD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Canada

    Michiel Van den Hof MD

Authors
  1. Deshayne B. Fell MSc
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  2. K. S. Joseph MD, PhD
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  3. Linda Dodds PhD
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  4. Alexander C. Allen MD
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  5. Krista Jangaard MD
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  6. Michiel Van den Hof MD
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Correspondence to Deshayne B. Fell MSc.

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Fell, D.B., Joseph, K.S., Dodds, L. et al. Changes in Maternal Characteristics in Nova Scotia, Canada from 1988 to 2001. Can J Public Health 96, 234–238 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403698

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