Born before arrival--uncovering the hazards.

ABSTRACT

In a retrospective case controlled study the demographic background and outcome of 193 mothers whose babies were born before arrival at hospital was compared to that of a control group who delivered within the maternity units of 2 teaching hospitals in Hong Kong. Mothers who delivered before arrival at hospital were significantly more likely to be single, to have received no antenatal care, to have an unplanned pregnancy, low family income and to come from a socially disadvantaged group such as Vietnamese refugees and illegal immigrants from China. Lacerations to the genital tract, postnatal anaemia and blood transfusions were more common in the study group. Results of cervical cytology and rubella status were available in significantly fewer of these mothers. They were more likely to be ambivalent about contraception and less likely to attend the postnatal clinic. The perinatal mortality and morbidity was significantly increased.