Table 2 Socio-demographic and pregnancy characteristics of women with and without a limiting longstanding illness

Age at delivery (years)

p = 0.55

<25

22.3 [20.0,24.7]

21.5 [20.1,22.9]

25-34

56.2 [53.7,58.8]

57.8 [56.7,58.8]

35+

21.5 [19.2,23.9]

20. 8 [19.5,22.2]

Ethnic group

p = 0.90

White

88.4 [85.2,90.9]

88.5 [86.1,90.6]

Other ethnic group

11.6 [9.1,14.8]

11.5 [9.4,13.9]

Timing of the first antenatal visit

p = 0.70

≤12 weeks

74.1 [71.3,76.6]

75.5 [74.2,76.9]

13-18 weeks

18.3 [16.0,20.9]

17.0 [16.0,18.0]

19+ weeks

4.4 [3.4,5.8]

4.4 [4.0,4.8]

Did not receive antenatal care

3.2 [2.3,4.3]

3.1 [2.5,3.8]

Lone Parent

19.5 [17.2,22.0]

13.9 [13.0,15.0]

p < 0.001

Partner has used force in the relationship

6.0 [4.5,7.8]

3.3 [2.9,3.6]

p < 0.001

Family income below 60% of the national median (income poor)

41.4 [38.1,44.7]

28.1 [26.3,30.0]

p < 0.001

Self-rated family financial status

p < 0.001

No financial difficulties

47.4 [44.3,50.6]

64.5 [63.1,65.8]

Just about getting by

33.8 [31.2,36.4]

26.0 [25.0,27.1]

In financial difficulties

18.8 [16.7,21.2]

9.5 [8.9,10.1]

Receiving means-tested benefits

49.3 [46.1,52.6]

35.3[33.3,37.3]

p < 0.001

Not owning home

50.0 [46.4,53.6]

36.8 [34.9,38.7]

p < 0.001

Highest educational qualification

p < 0.001

Higher degree/ First degree/diploma

20.6 [18.1,23.4]

27.8 [25.6,30.1]

A/AS/S levels

8.8 [7.4,10.4]

9.8 [9.2,10.4]

O level/GCSE grades A-C

35.5 [32.7,38.4]

34.6 [32.9,36.3]

GCSE grades D-G

12.8 [11.0,14.9]

10.7 [9.9,11.5]

Other academic qualifications (including overseas)

2.0 [1.3,3.0]

2.3 [2.0,2.8]

None

20.4 [18.2,22.7]

15.0 [13.7,16.3]

General health

p < 0.001

Excellent/good

41.4 [38.5,44.3]

87.8 [87.1,88.5]

Fair/poor

58.6 [55.7,61.5]

12.2 [11.5,12.9]

Pregnancy was a surprise

50.5 [47.6,53.4]

42.0 [40.7,43.3]

p < 0.001

Kept smoking during pregnancy

29.2 [26.5,32.1]

20.8 [19.5,22.1]

p < 0.001

This was the first baby

36.6 [34.0,39.3]

42.4 [41.3,43.5]

p < 0.001

Mode of delivery

p < 0.001

Vaginal/instrumental

73.5 [71.1,75.7]

79.1 [78.3,79.9]

Caesarean

26.6 [24.3,29.0]

20.9 [20.1,21.7]

Gestational age

p < 0.001

Very preterm <32 weeks

1.6 [1.0,2.6]

0.9 [0.8,1.1]

Preterm 32-36 weeks

9.3 [7.7,11.1]

5.9 [5.4,6.3]

37-42 weeks

89.1 [87.0,90.9]

93.2 [92.8,93.7]

Duration of breast feeding

p < 0.001

Never breast fed

33.5 [31.0,36.0]

30.1 [28.3,31.9]

< 1 week

12.2 [10.5,14.2]

10.5 [9.6,11.4]

1 week - 3 months

28.7 [26.3,31.3]

26.1 [25.1,27.0]

> 3 months

25.6 [22.9,28.4]

33.4 [31.4,35.5]

Child has a limiting longstanding illness at 7 years of age

12.0 [10.0,14.3]

6.2 [5.7,6.8]

p < 0.001