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Dramatic reduction in triplet and higher order births in England and Wales
Author(s) -
Simmons Rebecca,
Doyle Pat,
Maconochie Noreen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00208.x
Subject(s) - quarter (canadian coin) , statutory law , demography , new england , turnover , order (exchange) , demographic economics , geography , political science , economics , sociology , law , management , archaeology , politics , finance
The proportion of multiple births has increased markedly since 1980 in England and Wales. A major contribution to this trend is thought to be the widespread introduction of assisted reproductive technologies. Despite a continuing (but slower) upward trend in twin maternities, analysis of recent data shows that the rate of triplet and higher order births in England and Wales has declined by one‐quarter since 1998. This probably reflects both voluntary and statutory regulation of treatment regimes. This downward trend will help alleviate the high burden of perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with multiple births.