|
|
|
Tuesday, 05 August 2008 22:34 |
Rising levels of obesity could be contributing to the rates of stillbirths in the UK, a new study has warned today.
The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) found that the stillbirth rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is not decreasing, with 5.3 babies out of every 1,000 births being stillborn in 2006.
Women who had a stillbirth were found to be more likely to be aged below 20 or above 40; from deprived circumstances; or from an ethnic minority.
Over a quarter (26 per cent) of the mothers who had a stillbirth and 22 per cent of mothers who had a neonatal death (during first four weeks after birth) were obese.
This research adds to previous studies which have linked stillbirths, neonatal deaths and obesity and CEMACH is currently running a study into this issue.
|
|
Read more...
|
