The panorama and outcomes of pregnancies within a well-defined population in rural Vietnam 1999-2004.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy outcomes in the general population are important public health indicators.


OBJECTIVE
The overall aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of reported pregnancies within a well-defined population, to identify risk groups for adverse pregnancy outcomes, and to suggest preventive measures.


METHODS
A prospective population-based cohort study of pregnant women in Bavi district, Vietnam between 1 January 1999 and 30 June 2004.


RESULTS
Pregnancy outcome was reported for 5,259 cases; 4,152 (79%) resulted in a live birth, 67 (1.3%) in a stillbirth, 733 (14%) in an induced abortion, and 282 (5.4%) in a spontaneous abortion. There was an increased risk of home delivery for women from ethnic minorities (OR = 1.85; 95%CI = 1.06-3.24) or with less than 6 years of schooling (OR = 7.36; 95%CI = 3.54-15.30). The risk of stillbirth was increased for ethnic minorities (OR = 6.34; 95%CI = 1.33-30.29) and women delivering at home (OR = 6.81; 95%CI = 2.40-19.30). The risk of induced abortion increased with maternal age.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings emphasize the public health significance of access to adequate family planning, counselling, and maternal health care for all women. Policies should specifically target women from high-risk groups.
Graner
Sophie
S
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. Sophie.Graner@epiph.umu.se
Klingberg-Allvin
Marie
M
Phuc
Ho Dang
HD
Krantz
Gunilla
G
Mogren
Ingrid
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult