Related Experiment Videos
High parity and fetal morbidity outcomes
Muktar H Aliyu1, Hamisu M Salihu, Louis G Keith
1Department of Epidemiology and Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 3, 2005
Summary
High parity, defined as 5 or more births, increases the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in newborns. This elevated risk is linked more to shorter gestation than to restricted fetal growth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- High parity, defined as a high number of previous live births, is a demographic factor that may influence pregnancy outcomes.
- Previous research has suggested potential associations between high parity and adverse fetal outcomes, but the specific nature of these risks requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between high parity and a spectrum of fetal morbidity outcomes.
- To quantify the relative risk of adverse neonatal outcomes in women across different categories of high parity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large cohort of 22,463,141 singleton deliveries in the United States (1989-2000).
- Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for neonatal morbidity.
- Parity was categorized into moderate (1-4), high (5-9), very high (10-14), and extremely high (15+) prior live births.
Main Results:
- A consistent, dose-effect increase in the risk of low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm birth, and very preterm birth was observed with ascending parity.
- The risk for large for gestational age delivery followed an inverted-U pattern, peaking in the very high parity group.
- No conclusive findings were determined for small for gestational age deliveries.
Conclusions:
- High parity is identified as a significant risk factor for adverse fetal outcomes, particularly shortened gestation.
- The study highlights that the impact of high parity on fetal development is more pronounced in terms of gestational duration than fetal size restriction.
- These findings provide valuable information for counseling pregnant women with high parity regarding potential risks.