Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119042

Muktar Aliyu, MD, DrPH, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, CHSB 19 Rm 403/ Box 3, 933 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294-2041, 205-996-2190, mhaliyu@uab.edu

Objective: We investigated the association between high parity and fetal morbidity outcomes. Methods: We analyzed 22,463,141 singleton deliveries ≥20 weeks of gestation in the United States from 1989 through 2000. Adjusted odds ratios generated from logistic regression models were employed to approximate relative risk for neonatal morbidity in women with 2-4 (moderate parity or Type I; referent group), 5-9 (high parity or Type II), 10-14 (very high parity or Type III) and ≥15 (extremely high parity or Type IV) prior live births. Main outcome measures included low and very low birth weight, preterm and very preterm birth, and small- and large- for gestational age delivery. Results: The overall crude rates for low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm birth, very preterm birth, small- and large- for gestational age were 55, 11, 97, 19, 83 and 129 per 1,000 live births respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm and very preterm delivery increased consistently and in a dose-effect fashion with ascending parity (p for trend <0.001). The findings with respect to small for gestational age were inconclusive. Conclusion: High parity is a risk factor for adverse fetal outcomes. However, the impact of heightened parity is more manifest as shortened gestation rather than physical size restriction. These findings could prove beneficial for counseling women of high parity.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to comprehend the nature of the association between parity and neonatal morbidity outcomes.

Keywords: Infant Health, Pregnancy Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.