Abstract
Background: Rates of preterm birth are substantial with significant inequalities. Understanding the role of risk factors on the pathway from maternal socioeconomic status (SES) to preterm birth can help inform interventions and policy. This study therefore aimed to identify mediators of the relationship between maternal SES and preterm birth, assess the strength of evidence, and evaluate the quality of methods used to assess mediation.
Methods: Using Scopus, Medline OVID, “Medline In Process & Other Non-Indexed Citation”, PsycINFO, and Social Science Citation Index (via Web of Science), search terms combined variations on mediation, socioeconomic status, and preterm birth. Citation and advanced Google searches supplemented this. Inclusion criteria guided screening and selection of observational studies Jan-2000 to July-2020. The metric extracted was the proportion of socioeconomic inequality in preterm birth explained by each mediator (e.g. ‘proportion eliminated’). Included studies were narratively synthesised.
Results: Of 22 studies included, over one-half used cohort design. Most studies had potential measurement bias for mediators, and only two studies fully adjusted for key confounders. Eighteen studies found significant socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth. Studies assessed six groups of potential mediators: maternal smoking; maternal mental health; maternal physical health (including body mass index (BMI)); maternal lifestyle (including alcohol consumption); healthcare; and working and environmental conditions. There was high confidence of smoking during pregnancy (most frequently examined mediator) and maternal physical health mediating inequalities in preterm birth. Significant residual inequalities frequently remained. Difference-of-coefficients between models was the most common mediation analysis approach, only six studies assessed exposure-mediator interaction, and only two considered causal assumptions.
Conclusions: The substantial socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth are only partly explained by six groups of mediators that have been studied, particularly maternal smoking in pregnancy. There is, however, a large residual direct effect of SES evident in most studies. Despite the mediation analysis approaches used limiting our ability to make causal inference, these findings highlight potential ways of intervening to reduce such inequalities. A focus on modifiable socioeconomic determinants, such as reducing poverty and educational inequality, is probably necessary to address inequalities in preterm birth, alongside action on mediating pathways.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1134 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | BMC Public Health |
| Volume | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:PM is funded through an MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (MR/T00794X/1). DTR is funded by the MRC on a Clinician Scientist Fellowship (MR/P008577/1). BB is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC). BB and DTR are supported by the NIHR School for Public Health Research. The funders played no role in design, analysis, and interpretation of the study.
Data Availability Statement
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.Keywords
- Causal inference
- Maternal smoking
- Mediation
- Preterm birth
- Socioeconomic inequalities
- Body Mass Index
- Humans
- Social Class
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Pregnancy
- Premature Birth/epidemiology
- Female
- Infant, Newborn
- Cohort Studies
Access to Document
- McHale_et_al_Mediators_of_Socioeconomic_BMC_Public_Health_vor
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