PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Unplanned births out-of-hospital increases risk of infant mortality

Babies of young mothers, and those in remote areas are at greatest risk

Unplanned births out-of-hospital increases risk of infant mortality
2014-09-03
(Press-News.org) New research reveals that unplanned births out-of-hospital in Norway are associated with higher infant mortality. The findings published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate that young women who have given birth at least once before (multiparous) and those living in remote areas are more likely to have unplanned deliveries, which may increase the risk of death in newborns.

In 2013, close to 60,000 babies were born in Norway according to the Statistics Norway. The country now has 51 institutions with birthing centers—down from 158 units in 1972. With more specialized care the perinatal mortality rates decreased from 22 out of 1,000 births (1967-1971) to just 5 in 2010. However, medical evidence reports that with less birth centers the rates of unplanned births in Norway have increased from 4 per 1,000 births in 1979-83 to 7 in 1,000 births over the past few years.

"This trend to centralize obstetrics has improved perinatal mortality rates," explains lead author Dr. Björn Gunnarsson from the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation in Drøbak, Norway. "One downside to specialized care in central locations is an increase in unplanned births and its adverse outcomes, which is the focus of our study."

For this cross-sectional study, researchers used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1999 to 2013. This registry includes data for deliveries outside the hospital, which are required to be submitted by the physician or midwife present during or after the birth. The team compared the 4,899 unplanned births with all other births (reference group) that occurred during the study period.

Findings indicate that 7 per 1,000 deliveries are unplanned births that take place out of hospitals in Norway since 1999. Young multiparous women living in remote areas are most likely to have unplanned deliveries. In fact, young multiparous women giving birth have a 20 times greater risk of unplanned birth compared to older women who have never given birth (nullipara).

Further analysis shows that during the study period, the unplanned birth group had higher perinatal mortality rate compared to the reference group at 11 versus 5 per 1,000 births, respectively. The annual infant mortality rate did not change significantly from year to year during the time period, but did decline an average of 3% each year for the reference group. Babies with extremely low birthweight (500-999 grams; 1-2 pounds) in the unplanned birth group had a three times higher mortality risk compared to babies in the same birthweight category in the reference group.

Dr. Gunnarsson concludes, "Our findings suggest that unplanned births are linked to greater risk of perinatal mortality, which may be caused by limited access to proper medical care for vulnerable newborns. Further study of additional morbidities and potential interventions that reduce unplanned births is needed."

INFORMATION:

This study is published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com

Full citation: "Characteristics and Outcome of Unplanned Births Out-Of-Institutions in Norway From 1999 To 2013: A Cross-Sectional Study." Björn Gunnarsson, Alexander K. Smárason, Eirik Skogvoll and Sigurd Fasting. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica; Published online: September 3, 2014 (DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12450).

URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/aogs.12450

Author Contact: To arrange an interview with Dr. Gunnarsson, please contact Eline Dalland with Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation at eline.dalland@norskluftambulanse.no

About the Journal

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica is the official scientific journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG). It is a clinically oriented journal that covers all aspects of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive health, including perinatology, gynecologic endocrinology, female urology and gynecologic oncology. The journal is published in English and includes: editors´ messages, editorials, Acta commentaries, Acta reviews and original articles under the main categories of investigation, pregnancy, birth, fertility, infection, gynecology, gynecologic urology, oncology and surgery. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of the NFOG. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aogs.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global provider of content-enabled solutions that improve outcomes in research, education, and professional practice. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners.

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa, JWb), has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Unplanned births out-of-hospital increases risk of infant mortality

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Around 1 in 10 UK women has dry eye disease, requiring artificial tears

2014-09-03
The symptoms of dry eye disease include the sensation of grit in the eye, frequently accompanied by itching, burning and visual disturbance. The causes are poorly understood. The researchers base their findings on almost 4000 women aged 20 to 87 (average age 57) from the TwinsUK cohort, drawn from the registry held at St Thomas' Hospital in London. This cohort is widely regarded as representative of the UK general population, and has been used to look at a wide range of diseases and genetic traits over the years. The prevalence of dry eye disease, and the frequency and ...

Stillbirth gap closing between indigenous and non-indigenous women, shows Australian study

2014-09-03
The gap in stillbirth rates between indigenous and non-indigenous women in Queensland, Australia, is closing, however indigenous women are still at risk of stillbirth due to preventable causes, find researchers in a new study published today (3 September) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG). The Australian study used data from the Queensland Perinatal Data Collection and looked at 881,211 singleton births from 1995 to 2011. It aimed to assess the differences in stillbirth rates over time among indigenous (Australian Aboriginal and Torres ...

Estrogen increases cannabis sensitivity

Estrogen increases cannabis sensitivity
2014-09-03
PULLMAN, Wash. - Smoking today's concentrated pot might be risky business for women, according to new research from Washington State University. The study is the first to demonstrate sex differences in the development of tolerance to THC. Psychology professor Rebecca Craft showed that, thanks to their estrogen levels, female rats are at least 30 percent more sensitive than males to the pain-relieving qualities of THC—the key active ingredient in cannabis. Females also develop tolerance to THC more quickly. These sensitivities could increase vulnerability to negative ...

Discharged patients return to the ER because 'better safe than sorry'

2014-09-02
WASHINGTON – Patients who return to the emergency department within a few days of discharge do so principally because they are anxious about their symptoms and have lost trust in other parts of the health care system, according to the results of a study published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Return Visits to the Emergency Department: The Patient Perspective"). "When asked why they did not follow up as an outpatient, patients reported feeling that their symptoms were too severe to wait until their scheduled appointment or being instructed to return ...

NASA satellites calling here you come again, Tropical Storm Dolly

NASA satellites calling here you come again, Tropical Storm Dolly
2014-09-02
Tropical Storm Dolly visited Mexico six years ago, and NASA satellite data is calling "Here you come again," reminiscent of the famous country singer's hit song, as another storm named Dolly heads for a second landfall in Mexico. In July of 2008, Tropical Storm Dolly made landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico before making a second and final landfall in south Texas. Now, six years later, Tropical Storm Dolly returns thanks to the six year list of revolving hurricane names, and once again Dolly is making landfall in eastern Mexico. NASA's Aqua satellite caught ...

Residency training predicts physicians' ability to practice conservatively

2014-09-02
LEBANON, NH – Doctors trained in locations with less intensive (and expensive) practice patterns appear to consistently be better at making clinical decisions that spare patients unnecessary and excessive medical care, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine. "Growing concern about the costs and harms of medical care has spurred interest in assessing physicians' ability to avoid the provision of unnecessary care," said lead author Brenda Sirovich of the VA Outcomes Group and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice. Sirovich and colleagues ...

Experiences make you happier than possessions -- Before and after

2014-09-02
To get the most enjoyment out of our dollar, science tells us to focus our discretionary spending on experiences such as travel over material goods. A new Cornell University study shows that the enjoyment we derive from experiential purchases may begin even before we buy. This research offers important information for individual consumers who are trying to "decide on the right mix of material and experiential consumption for maximizing well-being," said psychology researcher and study author Thomas Gilovich of Cornell University. Previously, Gilovich and colleagues ...

Diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment: Higher risk in middle age?

2014-09-02
Essen, Germany, September 2, 2014 – In a large population-based study of randomly selected participants in Germany, researchers found that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred twice more often in individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. Interestingly, this strong association was only observed in middle-aged participants (50-65 years), whereas in older participants (66-80 years) the association vanished. This study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The concept of MCI describes an intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and dementia. ...

This week From AGU: California earthquake, future Mars rovers, models underestimate ozone

2014-09-02
From AGU's blogs: Earthquake rupture through a U.S. suburb Observations and mapping by seismologists at the University of California Davis in the hours and days after the August 24 earthquake in northern California are helping scientists understand why the earthquake caused so much damage in the region, according to a post in The Trembling Earth blog, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. From this week's Eos: Future Mars Rovers: The Next Places to Direct Our Curiosity Selecting where the next Mars rovers will land involves a series of open-invitation workshops ...

‘Prepped’ by tumor cells, lymphatic cells encourage breast cancer cells to spread

2014-09-02
Breast cancer cells can lay the groundwork for their own spread throughout the body by coaxing cells within lymphatic vessels to send out tumor-welcoming signals, according to a new report by Johns Hopkins scientists. Writing in the Sept. 2 issue of Nature Communications, the researchers describe animal and cell-culture experiments that show increased levels of so-called signaling molecules released by breast cancer cells. These molecules cause lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in the lungs and lymph nodes to produce proteins called CCL5 and VEGF. CCL5 attracts tumor ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Individuals with multiple sclerosis face substantially greater risk of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19, despite high rates of vaccination

Study shows obesity in childhood associated with a more than doubling of risk of developing multiple sclerosis in early adulthood

Rice Emerging Scholars Program receives $2.5M NSF grant to boost STEM education

Virtual rehabilitation provides benefits for stroke recovery

Generative AI develops potential new drugs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Biofuels could help island nations survive a global catastrophe, study suggests

NJIT research team discovering how fluids behave in nanopores with NSF grant

New study shows association of historical housing discrimination and shortfalls in colon cancer treatment

Social media use may help to empower plastic surgery patients

Q&A: How to train AI when you don't have enough data

Wayne State University researchers uncover potential treatment targets for Zika virus-related eye abnormalities

Discovering Van Gogh in the wild: scientists unveil a new gecko species

Small birds spice up the already diverse diet of spotted hyenas in Namibia

Imaging detects transient “hypoxic pockets” in the mouse brain

Dissolved organic matter could be used to track and improve the health of freshwaters

Indoor air quality standards in public buildings would boost health and economy, say international experts

Positive associations between premenstrual disorders and perinatal depression

New imaging method illuminates oxygen's journey in the brain

Researchers discover key gene for toxic alkaloid in barley

New approach to monitoring freshwater quality can identify sources of pollution, and predict their effects

Bidirectional link between premenstrual disorders and perinatal depression

Cell division quality control ‘stopwatch’ uncovered

Vaccine protects cattle from bovine tuberculosis, may eliminate disease

Andrew Siemion to receive the SETI Institute’s 2024 Drake Award

New study shows how the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus enters our cells

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy proves effective for locally advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma

Study flips treatment paradigm in bilateral Wilms tumor, shows resistance to chemotherapy may point toward favorable outcomes

Doctors received approximately $12.1 billion from drug and device makers between 2013-2022

Discovery suggests new strategy against follicular lymphoma

Making the future too bright: how wishful thinking can point us in the wrong direction

[Press-News.org] Unplanned births out-of-hospital increases risk of infant mortality
Babies of young mothers, and those in remote areas are at greatest risk