Background Variations in childbirth interventions may indicate inappropriate use. Most variation studies are limited by the lack of adjustments for maternal characteristics and do not investigate variations in adverse outcomes. This study aims to explore regional variations in the Netherlands and their correlations with referral rates, birthplace, interventions, and adverse outcomes, adjusted for maternal characteristics. Methods In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, using a national data register, intervention rates were analysed between twelve regions among single childbirths after 37 weeks’ gestation in 2010–2013 (n = 614,730). These were adjusted for maternal characteristics using multivariable logistic regression. Primary outcomes were intrapartum referral, birthplace, and interventions used in midwife- and obstetrician-led care. Correlations both between primary outcomes and between adverse outcomes were calculated with Spearman’s rank correlations. Findings Intrapartum referral rates varied between 55–68% (nulliparous) and 20–32% (multiparous women), with a negative correlation with receiving midwife-led care at the onset of labour in two-thirds of the regions. Regions with higher referral rates had higher rates of severe postpartum haemorrhages. Rates of home birth varied between 6–16% (nulliparous) and 16–31% (multiparous), and was negatively correlated with episiotomy and postpartum oxytocin rates. Among midwife-led births, episiotomy rates varied between 14–42% (nulliparous) and 3–13% (multiparous) and in obstetrician-led births from 46–67% and 14–28% respectively. Rates of postpartum oxytocin varied between 59–88% (nulliparous) and 50–85% (multiparous) and artificial rupture of membranes between 43–52% and 54–61% respectively. A north-south gradient was visible with regard to birthplace, episiotomy, and oxytocin. Conclusions Our study suggests that attitudes towards interventions vary, independent of maternal characteristics. Care providers and policy makers need to be aware of reducing unwarranted variation in birthplace, episiotomy and the postpartum use of oxytocin. Further research is needed to identify explanations and explore ways to reduce unwarranted intervention rates.
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Lecture about the regional dimension in the political, economic and social construction of Europe.
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Achtergrond: Ernstige psychische aandoeningen (epa) gaan gepaard met hoge ggz- en andere zorgkosten. Om de discussie hierover tussen verzekeraars, gemeenten en ggz transparanter te voeren zijn in 2012 zorgvignetten ontwikkeld die in een regio een beeld moeten geven over de aanwezige groepen patiënten met epa, ingedeeld naar zorgintensiteit. Doel: Inzicht krijgen in de vraag hoe bruikbaar en valide deze epa-vignetten zijn in relatie tot zorgbehoeften en psychosociaal functioneren. Methode: rom-uitkomsten (zorgbehoeften en psychosociaal functioneren) van 706 patiënten werden per zorgzwaartevignet vergeleken (m.b.v. χ2-toetsen en anova’s). Voor twee complexe zorgzwaartevignetten (zorgwekkende zorgmijders en gevaar afwenden) werden verschillen in zorgbehoeften en functioneren longitudinaal onderzocht (met repeated measures-anova’s en analyses volgens McNemar). Resultaten: De vignetten waren in beperkte mate onderscheidend wat betreft zorgbehoeften en functioneren. Patiënten met vignetten ‘zorgwekkende zorgmijders’ en ‘gevaar afwenden’ hadden de meeste beperkingen in functioneren en de meeste (onvervulde) zorgbehoeften. Deze bevindingen bleken stabiel over tijd. Conclusie: De vignetten zijn onvoldoende onderscheidend. Om regionale zorgplanning te verbeteren is het wenselijk om bestaande informatie van zorgvignetten te verrijken met informatie over zorgbehoeften en functioneren
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