Reports Outline Preeclampsia Study Results from Seoul National University (Socioeconomic status can affect pregnancy outcomes and complications, even…

Insurance Weekly News

Reports Outline Preeclampsia Study Results from Seoul National University (Socioeconomic status can affect pregnancy outcomes and complications, even with a universal healthcare system)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Fresh data on Pregnancy Complications - Preeclampsia are presented in a new report. According to news reporting out of Seoul, South Korea, by VerticalNews editors, research stated, "Low socioeconomic status can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but it remains unclear whether this negative association is attributed to inadequate prenatal care. Korea has been adopting a universal healthcare system."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Seoul National University, "All Korean citizens must be enrolled National Health Insurance (NHI) or be recipient of Medical Aid (MA). In addition, Korean government launched a financial support system for antenatal care for all pregnant women in 2008. Therefore, in theory, there is no financial barrier to receive prenatal cares regardless of someone's social class. However, it is still unclear whether adverse pregnancy outcomes observed in low-income women are attributable to low SES or to economic barriers specific to the utilization of medical services. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether socioeconomic status affects pregnancy outcomes after the introduction of this support system, which allows all pregnant women to receive adequate prenatal care regardless of socioeconomic status. Using the National Health Insurance database in Korea, we selected women who gave birth between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. As a proxy indicator reflecting socioeconomic status, we classified subjects as MA recipient ('low' SES) or a NHI beneficiary ('middle/high' SES). In the MA group, 29.4% women received inadequate prenatal care, compared to 11.4% in the NHI group. Mothers in the MA group were more likely to have an abortion (30.1%), rather than deliver a baby, than those in the NHI group (20.7%, P< 0.001). Mothers in the MA group were also more likely to undergo a Caesarean delivery (45.8%; NHI group: 39.6%, P< 0.001), and have preeclampsia (1.5%; NHI group: 0.6%, P< 0.001), obstetric hemorrhage (4.7%; NHI group: 3.9%, P = 0.017), and a preterm delivery (2.1%; NHI group: 1.4%, P< 0.001) than those in the NHI group."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Women in the MA group tended to show higher rates of abortion, Caesarean delivery, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and obstetrical hemorrhage than those in the NHI group Therefore, health authorities should consider investigating what kind of barriers exist or what factors may affect these inequitable outcomes."

For more information on this research see: Socioeconomic status can affect pregnancy outcomes and complications, even with a universal healthcare system. International Journal for Equity in Health, 2018;17():1-8. International Journal for Equity in Health can be contacted at: Biomed Central Ltd, 236 Grays Inn Rd, Floor 6, London WC1X 8HL, England. (BioMed Central - www.biomedcentral.com/; International Journal for Equity in Health - www.equityhealthj.com)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting J.Y. Lee, Seoul National University, Medical Res Center, Inst Hlth Policy & Management, Seoul, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include S.M. Lee, S.H. Bae, H.J. Kim, N.G. Lim, S.J. Yoon, M.K. Kim and M.W. Jo.

Keywords for this news article include: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, Pregnancy Complications, Investment and Finance, Risk and Prevention, Insurance Companies, Health and Medicine, Health Insurance, Women's Health, Preeclampsia, Hemorrhage, Obstetrics, Seoul National University.