Defining vulnerability subgroups among pregnant women using pre-pregnancy information: a latent class analysis

Early detection of vulnerability during or before pregnancy can contribute to optimizing the first 1000 days, a crucial period for children's development and health. We aimed to identify classes of vulnerability among pregnant women in the Netherlands using pre-pregnancy data on a wide range of social risk and protective factors, and validate these classes against the risk of adverse outcomes.

We conducted a latent class analysis based on 42 variables derived from nationwide observational data sources and self-reported data. Variables included individual, socioeconomic, lifestyle, psychosocial and household characteristics, self-reported health, healthcare utilization, life-events and living conditions. We compared classes in relation to adverse outcomes using logistic regression analyses.

In the study population of 4172 women, we identified five latent classes. The largest 'healthy and socioeconomically stable'-class [n = 2040 (48.9%)] mostly shared protective factors, such as paid work and positively perceived health. The classes 'high care utilization' [n = 485 (11.6%)], 'socioeconomic vulnerability' [n = 395 (9.5%)] and 'psychosocial vulnerability' [n = 1005 (24.0%)] were characterized by risk factors limited to one specific domain and protective factors in others. Women classified into the 'multidimensional vulnerability'-class [n = 250 (6.0%)] shared multiple risk factors in different domains (psychosocial, medical and socioeconomic risk factors). Multidimensional vulnerability was associated with adverse outcomes, such as premature birth and caesarean section.

Co-existence of multiple risk factors in various domains is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child. Early detection of vulnerability and strategies to improve parental health and well-being might benefit from focussing on different domains and combining medical and social care and support.