[Do women from Seine-Saint-Denis have different prenatal care compared to other women in the region?].

OBJECTIVE: We compared the care of pregnant women residing in Seine-Saint-Denis (SSD) to those resident elsewhere in Ile-de-France because of the high rate of perinatal and infant mortality in this district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data come from the French national perinatal surveys of 2003 and 2010 (n=969 in Seine-Saint-Denis, n=5636 other Ile-de-France). We analyzed two indicators: inadequate prenatal care (late initiation, <3 ultrasounds, insufficient number of visits) and lack of knowledge of about screening and diagnostic tests for Down's Syndrome. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Nineteen percent of women in Seine-Saint-Denis and 12 % elsewhere in Ile-de-France had inadequate care and 29 % and 16 % did not know if they had been screened for Down's Syndrome. These rates were higher among migrant women but did not differ by place of residence (25 and 40 % respectively). For French citizens, residence in Seine-Saint-Denis was a risk factor for both indicators. CONCLUSION: A reflection on how to improve care during pregnancy should be initiated in Seine-Saint-Denis.