Why is perinatal and infant mortality high in the Seine-Saint-Denis district? A consultation with healthcare providers using a Delphi process

• Published in: Journal de gynecologie, obstetrique et biologie de la reproduction Vol. 45; no. 8; p. 908
• Main Authors: Sauvegrain, P, Rico-Berrocal, R, Zeitlin, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-10-2016
• Subjects: Delphi Technique; France - epidemiology; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Perinatal Mortality; Stillbirth - epidemiology; Delphi process; Consultation des professionnels; Health inequalities; Mortalité infantile; Stillbirth; Inégalités de santé; Infant mortality; Mortalité périnatale; Delphi; Health care providers consultation
• ISSN: 1773-0430
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgyn.2016.02.002

In Seine-Saint-Denis, stillbirth and infant mortality rates are markedly higher than in other French departments. Before implementing an audit on stillbirths and neonatal deaths in 2014, we carried out a Delphi consensus process with healthcare providers to generate research hypotheses.
A Delphi process in 3 questionnaires was conducted in 2013 with 32 healthcare providers (pediatricians, obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives, social workers, psychologists, pediatric nurses) and user representatives. The first questionnaire asked open questions about why mortality rates were higher and possible solutions to remedy the situation. In subsequent questionnaires, the panel ranked factors identified in the first questionnaires by importance.
One hundred and thirty factors were identified from 42 pages of text responses in the first round. From these, the 75 most highly ranked were grouped into 14 main topics organized around three themes: 1) more underlying health problems in the population, 2) access and organization of care, 3) the health consequences of poor socioeconomic conditions. Coordination of care, provider and patient communication, and access to care were highlighted.
The Delphi consensus process identified a wide range of hypotheses for the higher mortality in Seine-Saint-Denis which are adapted to the local context and based on the concerns of health practitioners.