The influence of socio-economic factors on the results of a prematury-Dysmaturity prevention programme
Kucera, H.; Pavelka, R.; Rudelstorfer, B.; Reinold, E.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 89(9): 307-311
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5325 PMID: 16406 Document Number: 120226
All high-risk gravidae with regard to prematurity and dysmaturity (PDP programme) were collected over a time-limited period. More than two thirds (n = 72) of these women were submitted to intensive care (PDP group); one third (n = 33) (control group) refused intensive care. Furthermore, socio-economic factors were taken into consideration in this study and appropriate classification into 4 groups was undertaken. Gravidae of a higher social class were more often willing to undergo intensive care than gravidae of a lower class. In the PDP group 75% of the gravidae were delivered after the end of the 36th gestational week and 51% of the gravidae in the control group. A similar relationship was found in regard to the birth weight of the newborn infants: in the PDP group 74.4% of the babies weighed over 2500 g at birth in contrast to the respective figure of 42.9% in the control group. However, this socio-economic study shows that the results of intensive care are much more successful in women from a lower social stata than in women from a higher social class.