Researchers at UMass Medical School and Brandeis University have found that pregnant women with developmental and intellectual disabilities have high rates of complications including fetal death, preeclampsia and preterm birth, according to a nationwide study published in the September issue of American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.The study found that women with these disabilities fare worse than the general population and could benefit from additional education and intervention.
Researchers analyzed discharge data from 1,051 hospitals in 45 states in 2010 and found 1,706 women classified by hospital codes as having intellectual and developmental disabilities. Pregnancies among these women were associated with a higher likelihood of poor outcomes that include preeclampsia, preterm birth, Caesarean section, longer hospital stays and fetal death.