Variability in caesarean section rates for very preterm births at 28-31 weeks of gestation in 10 European regions: results of the MOSAIC project.

Objective: Given the continuing debate about the benefits of caesarean section for very preterm infants, we sought to describe caesarean section rates for infants between 28 and 31 weeks of gestation in European regions and their association with regional mortality and short-term morbidity.

Study Design: Singletons and twins without lethal congenital anomalies alive at onset of labour from 28 to 31 weeks of gestation from the 2003 MOSAIC cohort of very preterm births in 10 European regions were analysed (N=3,310). Determinants included maternal and fetal characteristics as well as regional caesarean section rates for all births.

Migration to western industrialised countries and perinatal health: a systematic review.

Influxes of migrant women of childbearing age to receiving countries have made their perinatal health status a key priority for many governments. The international research collaboration Reproductive Outcomes And Migration (ROAM) reviewed published studies to assess whether migrants in western industrialised countries have consistently poorer perinatal health than receiving-country women. A systematic review of literature from Medline, Health Star, Embase and PsychInfo from 1995 to 2008 included studies of migrant women/infants related to pregnancy or birth.