Differences in birth outcomes across levels of neighbourhood deprivation

What is it about?

Health inequalities are differences in health across groups due to social circumstances. Health inequalities are observed in early life in form of adverse birth outcomes (premature birth, small-for-gestational-age, and stillbirth). There is evidence that neighbourhood might influence health. The aim of this work was to study how inequalities in birth outcomes have changed over time across levels of neighbourhood deprivation. We found that absolute inequalities in birth outcomes by neighbourhood deprivation decreased between 2003 and 2017. However, relative inequalities, comparing the most vs the least deprived neighbourhoods, were persistent.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Our findings show that relative inequalities in birth outcomes (comparing neighbourhood deprivation levels vs the least deprived level), have persisted in the Netherlands across the observed period (2003-2017). These results indicate that there is still work to be done to reduce inequalities in birth outcomes between more and less deprived neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. Continuing public health actions is necessary to reduce these inequalities.