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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Maternal socioeconomic status and the risk of asthma among offspring

Authors: Maijakaisa Harju, Leea Keski-Nisula, Leena Georgiadis, Kaisa Raatikainen, Sari Räisänen, Seppo Heinonen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

To evaluate the association between maternal socioeconomic status (SES) during pregnancy and asthma among offspring.

Methods

A retrospective observational hospital-based birth cohort study in a university-based Obstetrics and Gynecology department in Finland. A total of 40 118 women with singleton live births between 1989 and 2007 were linked with data from the register for asthma medication for their offspring (n = 2518). Pregnancy and maternal SES factors were recorded during pregnancy and labor. SES was categorized thus: upper white-collar workers (highest SES), lower white-collar workers, blue-collar workers, others (lowest SES) and cases with missing information. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between maternal SES and childhood asthma.

Results

We found no convincing evidence of a direct association between maternal SES and childhood asthma. Parental smoking was the clearest factor affecting asthma among children of lower white-collar workers. Differences in pregnancy and delivery characteristics were observed between the SES groups.

Conclusions

Maternal socioeconomic status had no significant direct impact on the prevalence of asthma in this Finnish birth cohort. Finnish public health services appeared to offer equal quality services independently of SES.

Trial registration

The study is registered in Kuopio University Hospital register (TUTKI): ID5302448.

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Metadata
Title
Maternal socioeconomic status and the risk of asthma among offspring
Authors
Maijakaisa Harju
Leea Keski-Nisula
Leena Georgiadis
Kaisa Raatikainen
Sari Räisänen
Seppo Heinonen
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1357-6

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