[Influence of socio-economic status on the utilization of epidural analgesia during labor].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the influence of socio-economic status on the utilization of epidural analgesia during labor.


METHODS
Modes of delivery, insurance, marital status and maternal occupation were retrospectively reviewed between 2000 and 2003 according to the birth documentation of all deliveries at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, university of Wuerzburg, Germany. Using the maternal occupation groups were formed according to the minimum degree of education required for its practise. Women with epidural analgesia during labor were compared to those without it.


RESULTS
30 % of all deliveries during the evaluated four years were aided by employing epidural analgesics. For both collectives there were no changes of percentages concerning insurance, marital status or maternal occupation during this time. With 12-24 %, epidural analgesia was more often performed in patients undergoing operative transvaginal deliveries in comparison to women without epidural analgesics (2-5 %). There are no differences between the two groups concerning maternal occupation, insurance or marital status. However, looking at the collective of women with epidural analgesia during labor, epidural analgesia is more often used among women with private insurance. Concerning the degree of education there is also a marginal significant difference in the utilization of epidural analgesia in favour for women with a higher educational degree.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of intrapartum epidural analgesia is associated with insurance and maternal occupation/educational degree.
Morr
A-K
AK
Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Würzburg. ann-katrin.morr@gmx.de
Broscheit
J
J
Blissing
S
S
Bernar
T
T
Dietl
J
J
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data