Scientific Presentations
LabTalks@SocialDemography
Department Social Demography
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), Rostock, Germany, January 28, 2025
Nicole Hiekel from Biosfer and the Research Group: Gender Inequalities and Fertility and Anna-Kathleen Piereth from the Laboratory of Population Health give talks.
1:00 PM: Talk with Anna-Kathleen Piereth - Measuring the relationship between mortality and inpatient care utilization: The Net Hospitalization Rate in Germany
Abstract
Hospitalization is both a driver and a consequence of increasing life expectancy. However, we lack measures and insights into the relationship between rising life expectancy and inpatient care utilization. We introduce the Net Hospitalization Rate (NHR), which is the average number of hospitalizations from age 𝑥 considering mortality. Using age-specific population exposures, deaths, and hospitalizations covering the total German population (2005–2021), we examined, decomposed and projected NHR period trends. Lifetime hospitalizations increased from 16.2 to 18.2 (women) and from 14.3 to 16.1 (men) throughout 2005–2019. For women, the rise was similarly driven by more hospitalizations and longer life expectancy, while for men, increasing life expectancy played a much larger role. The results point to further questions on the explanation of the observed NHR patterns and the determined hospitalization effects.
1:45 PM: Talk with Nicole Hiekel - Unequal pregnancy outcomes: Is there a social gradient in miscarriages in Norway?
Abstract
Miscarriage is a common reproductive outcome, with an estimated 12% to 15% of recognized pregnancies ending in loss by 20 weeks of gestation. Despite its prevalence, the exact causes remain unclear, likely resulting from a complex interplay of maternal age, genetic, hormonal, immunological, and environmental factors. Assessing the prevalence and social determinants of miscarriage is challenging due to underreporting, competing risks such as induced abortion, and limited availability of suitable data. While socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-documented determinant of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth, its role in miscarriage remains understudied and findings across countries are inconsistent.
This study analyzes data on all registered pregnancies from 2008 to 2017 among Norwegian-born women using national birth and health registries, linked to detailed SES measures, including education, income, and employment. In Norway, SES does not correlate with the risk of miscarriage. However, a clear SES gradient is observed in other pregnancy outcomes. Induced abortion is more common among women with lower SES, as evidenced by higher odds ratios for those with lower education, lower income, and lack of employment. Conversely, higher education and employment are associated with reduced odds of stillbirth. Live births exhibit a positive SES gradient, being more common among highly educated, employed women with higher income. These findings provide insights into how social inequalities shape reproductive health outcomes, even within a context of universal healthcare and relatively low overall inequality, highlighting areas for targeted policy interventions.
Authors: Nicole Hiekel1, Maria C. Magnus2, and Jonathan Wörn2 (presenter: Nicole)
1 Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Research Group Gender Inequalities and Fertility
2 Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Fertility and Health
LabTalk, January, 28th from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Rostock time)