Twins born over weekends: are they at risk for elevated infant mortality?
Boubakari Ibrahimou1, Hamisu M Salihu, Gary English
1Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA. boubakari.ibrahimou@wku.edu
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|July 17, 2012
Summary
Twins born on weekends face higher post-neonatal mortality risks compared to those born on weekdays. This weekend birth disadvantage particularly affects teenage mothers, increasing neonatal death risk. Further research is needed to understand these disparities.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Public health
- Neonatal outcomes
Background:
- The day of birth, specifically weekend versus weekday, may influence infant mortality rates.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the impact of birth timing on twin mortality.
- Understanding disparities in twin mortality is crucial for improving neonatal care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the day of birth (weekend vs. weekday) and mortality in twins.
- To identify specific mortality risks associated with weekend births in a large population sample.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of United States national twin birth data from 1989-2002.
- Utilized Cox proportional hazards models to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
- Examined associations between infant mortality and weekday of birth, adjusting for potential confounders.
Main Results:
- Crude mortality rates were higher for twins born on weekends.
- Adjusted analysis revealed significantly higher post-neonatal mortality risk for weekend births (HR=1.19).
- An interaction between maternal age and birth weekday showed increased neonatal death risk for twins born on weekends to teenage mothers (HR=1.35).
Conclusions:
- Twins born on weekends exhibit a significantly higher risk of post-neonatal death compared to weekday births.
- The findings highlight a potential disadvantage associated with weekend births, particularly for vulnerable populations like teenage mothers.
- Further investigation into healthcare structures and procedures is warranted to address weekend birth-related disparities.
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