Does socioeconomic status impact on gestational diabetes screening uptake: a retrospective observational study of a London suburb population

Published Date: 01st December 2023

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Abstract

Introduction: All eligible people should have access to NHS screening programmes, with health inequalities being avoidable differences in health statuses between groups of people. With the belief that deprived populations are at higher risk of conditions being screened for, but generally less likely to participate, we retrospectively analysed a London suburb pregnant population to evaluate if low socioeconomic status (SES) correlated with a population at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes (GDM), and if these high-risk women accessed screening offered.
Method(s): 4163 pregnant women who booked between July 2018 and March 2020 at Princess Royal University Hospital were retrospectively analysed. Associations between SES trends (using Multiple Deprivation Deciles (MDD)), and body mass index (BMI), age, ethnicity, and GDM screening uptake were analysed.
Result(s): A higher proportion of non-Caucasian ethnic patients with a higher BMI reside in the most deprived group, with 28% in the MDD 1-4 (most deprived) compared to 27.5% in the MDD 5-7 group and 23% in the MDD 8-10 (least deprived) group (p < 0.001). GDM risk per group revealed higher numbers of patients with risk- factors in the most deprived area; 65% in MDD 1-4, 57% in MDD 5-7, and 47% in MDD 8-10 (P < 0.001). The most deprived area had a higher percentage of missed screening; 15% in MDD 1-4 did not go for screening compared to 11% in MDD 5-7, and 8% in MDD 8-10 groups (P < 0.0001).
Discussion(s): Under the Equality Act 2010, NHS screening providers have a legal duty to ensure screening services are accessible to everyone. Our findings exposed the urgent need to develop strategies to improve screening attendance aimed at deprived areas, to increase individual participation and tackle health-inequalities in the population. Further research is needed to pinpoint exact reasons behind why those from less affluent areas are less likely to undergo GDM screening.

Gnanasambanthan, S.; Kohli,S.; Et al. (2023). Does socioeconomic status impact on gestational diabetes screening uptake: a retrospective observational study of a London suburb population. Obstetric Medicine. 16(Supp 3), pp.6-7. [Online]. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1753495X231212990 [Accessed 12 March 2026].