Cost of preterm birth to Australian mothers: Assessing the financial impact of a birth outcome with an increasing prevalence

Aim To examine the differences in return to work time after childbirth; income; and out of pocket health-care costs between mothers who had a preterm birth delivered full term baby Australia. Methods Using administrative data, length ‘risk’ returning employment for whose child was born premature relative those reported. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed assess difference maternal income mean out-of-pocket birth. Results The babies 1.9 years it 2.8 years. Mothers significantly lower median ah at 0–1, 2–3 4–5 postpartum compared babies. adjusted health care paid by $1298 aged 32–36 weeks; $2491 <32 weeks. This is comparison children 37 weeks over, $1059. Conclusion have longer time, weekly also higher with