In contrast to the general maternity population, maternal age, parity, obesity, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation were not independently associated with adverse outcome (Table 3).
Poisson regression models were then used to assess trends in the rate of multiple maternities by maternal age and deprivation decile over time.
Since the rate of multiple maternity increased with increasing maternal age (figure 1), this led to an increase in multiple maternities.
The number of maternities by multiplicity of birth (singleton, twin, triplet and higher order) and the rate of multiple maternities were calculated by maternal age (5-year bands), deprivation decile and year of birth.
They foreshadow an increasing demand on maternity services and resources as trends of very advanced maternal age continue.
The increase in multiple maternities over time was strongly associated with changing patterns of maternal age (table 2).
Multiple maternity rate, stillbirth and neonatal death rate by year of birth, decile of socioeconomic deprivation and maternal age.
The distribution of maternal age among the mothers having perinatal deaths is skewed towards advanced maternal age compared with the general maternity population.
The comparison between several characteristics among the three maternal age groups of all women identified as having severe maternal morbidity in this study showed well-known differences among these groups, reflecting some unfavorable conditions for maternity in both extreme age groups, in comparison to an intermediate reproductive age.
There was substantial and striking variability in rates of infant and perinatal mortality, deprivation, spending on maternity services, age of mothers, and ethnicity across the PCTs.
We also excluded studies on non-general maternity or childbearing age populations, such as women with a particular disease.
