As part of its prevention mission, Public Health France has just published a report on the state of health of the pregnant woman, the fetus and the newborn during the period from pregnancy to postpartum. This work allows for the first time an overall description of the state of perinatal health in our country, “to better target the prevention and health promotion actions to be implemented” explains Pre Geneviève Chêne, Director General of French public health.
Women give birth on average at 30 years and 3 months
The average age at childbirth has increased in all regions in France between 2010 and 2019. For France as a whole, the average age at childbirth is increased from 29.3 years in 2010 to 30.3 years in 2018. Women give birth younger in the DROMs, particularly in Guyana, Réunion and Martinique.
In mainland France, the age is highest in Île-de-France (31.2 years in 2016-2019). It is also slightly higher in PACA, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie.
A declining birth rate, except in Ile-de-France
The number of births is falling in all regions in France, going from 841,000 in 2010 to 734,000 in 2019. “The main reason for this drop lies on the one hand in the increase in the maternal age of childbirth and on the other fertility among the youngest women, the age at which they are most fertile” emphasizes Public Health France. The birth rate which was at 135 p. 1000 inhabitants in 2010 rose to 125 p. 1000 inhabitants in 2019.
Île-de-France and Pays de la Loire stand out with the highest birth rates and above the national average. Conversely, New Aquitaine and especially Corsica have the lowest birth rates.
>> Note that in Île-de-France, the rate of homeless women who gave birth rose from 0.58% in 2015 to 2.28% in 2019. It is in Paris where it is highest, from 1.13% to 5.28%.
Almost 2 out of 10 moms-to-be continue to smoke
France is one of the European countries with the highest prevalence of maternal smoking in Europe (16.2% of women smoke in the 3rd trimester in 2016). The proportion of women who quit smoking during pregnancy has remained stable (46.0% in 1972 and 45.8% in 2016). “These trends suggest that prevention should be strengthened among smokers planning a pregnancy so that they increase their chance of quitting smoking when they are pregnant,” the authors of the report emphasize.
Too many overweight moms-to-be
Analysis of BMI (body mass index) shows an increase in overweight and obesity between 1998 and 2016. During this period, the proportion of women who gave birth with a normal BMI before pregnancy decreased from 68.0% in 2003 to 60.8% in 2016. The prevalence of morbid obesity (i.e. a BMI >= 40 kg/m2) also shows an upward trend in BMI pre-pregnancy.
It is in the DROMs and in the Hauts-de-France that we find the highest rates of morbid obesity. The weakest are recorded in Corsica and PACA.
>> Note that maternal obesity is one of the reasons why the prevalence of gestational diabetes has increased over the past ten years in all regions of France.
A caesarean section rate that remains stable
Over the past ten years, just over 20% of French births have been performed by caesarean section. This rate has changed little since it went from 20.5% in 2010 to 20.2% in 2019, but it covers large variations between establishments and between regions. The highest rates are found in Île-de-France and the lowest in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and in the Grand Est.
>> Note that one out of three caesareans is scheduled (particularly for high-risk pregnancies).
Source : Perinatal health surveillance report in France, Public Health France, September 2022
