Santé publique France is a partner in the 6th edition of the National Perinatal Survey
Santé publique France closely monitors maternal and child health using various data sources, including the National Perinatal Survey, the results of which are being released today.
surveys/studies
2021 National Perinatal Survey
Santé publique France is participating in the 6th edition of the 2021 National Perinatal Survey (ENP 2021), which involves approximately 15,000 women who have recently given birth in maternity...
The 2021 National Perinatal Survey (ENP 2021) is being conducted by the EPOPé team at Inserm in collaboration with Santé publique France, the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics (DREES), the Directorate General for Health (DGS), and the Directorate General for Healthcare Provision (DGOS).
The National Perinatal Survey is an essential data source for monitoring perinatal health in France. This survey, which interviews women in the maternity ward and two months after birth, complements other existing data sources on perinatal health, such as medical-administrative databases, health certificates, and registry data. The indicators derived from all these sources provide a comprehensive snapshot of perinatal health in France, as presented in the Perinatal Health Surveillance Report (September 2022) by Santé publique France.
The 2021 edition of the ENP—the sixth since 1995—was conducted in March 2021 among 12,723 women (in mainland France) and provides reliable, up-to-date data to monitor perinatal health, conduct a comprehensive assessment of medical practices during pregnancy and childbirth, and to guide public health policies.
For the first time, the survey included a follow-up of women two months after childbirth, with a particular focus on their mental health.
It should be noted that the field survey took place during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this specific context must be taken into account when interpreting certain trends described in the report presenting the main results of this study.
Key Findings of the 2021 ENP
During pregnancy, several indicators point to an improvement in women’s health and preventive measures:
The number of women using harmful substances during pregnancy is decreasing. Thus, the proportion of women reporting tobacco use in the third trimester is declining (12.2% in 2021 versus 16.3% in 2016), as is the proportion of women reporting cannabis use during pregnancy (1.1% versus 2.1%).
More and more women are getting vaccinated against the flu during pregnancy: 30.4% of women were vaccinated, a very sharp increase compared to 2016, when this proportion stood at only 7.4%. The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a role in accelerating this increase.
However, progress still needs to be made in certain areas:
Prevention of neural tube defects through folic acid supplementation is still initiated too late, as fewer than one-third of women begin supplementation before pregnancy, as recommended.
Only 16.0% of women received advice on limiting the transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV).
The postpartum period, a critical time for care and prevention:
Following childbirth, many women received a home visit from a midwife (79.1%).
Almost all received advice on how to put their child to sleep. However, only half of the women received advice on how to soothe their crying child.
The breastfeeding rate in the maternity ward remains fairly stable, with 56.3% of women exclusively breastfeeding their child in the maternity ward in 2021, compared to 54.6% in 2016. The breastfeeding rate at 2 months is lower: 34.4% of women exclusively breastfeed their child. The initial results of the Epifane study, linked to the ENP, will be published in 2023 and will provide additional information on the duration of breastfeeding in France.
New data has been obtained regarding women’s mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth:
The proportion of women who reported feeling “good” psychologically during pregnancy is decreasing (63.2% in 2021 versus 67.7% in 2016)
Data collected two months after childbirth reveal that 16.7% of women experience postpartum depression, as assessed using the EPDS scale, though it is not possible to determine here the link between this finding of deteriorated mental health and the pandemic context.
The two-month follow-up, a new feature of the 2021 ENP, thus provides valuable insights into women’s experiences in the weeks following childbirth. It helps identify ways to better support them, benefiting both their health and that of their child.
What role does Santé publique France play in the ENP?
Santé publique France has been a key partner in the ENP 2021 project since its inception and has led efforts regarding the 2-month follow-up indicators, the expansion of the survey area to the DROMs (ENP-DROM in collaboration with the Regional Health Agencies), the linkage with data from the National Health Data System (SNDS), and the integration of the Epifane study.
Santé publique France’s Action Plan in the Field of Perinatal and Early Childhood Health
As part of its missions to monitor the health status of the population and coordinate epidemiological surveillance, the Agency is responsible for coordinating the perinatal surveillance system in France.
The Agency’s “Perinatal and Early Childhood Health” program is a cross-cutting initiative that integrates surveillance, prevention, and health promotion. It takes a population-based approach focused on the life course, beginning with the first 1,000 days, to reduce social health inequalities as early as possible. The Agency draws on the current state of scientific knowledge, the development of epidemiological indicators, and the identification of determinants. Finally, based on these foundations, the Agency identifies and supports the implementation of early interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations. For example, the PANJO intervention, currently being rolled out in maternal and child health centers (PMI), aims to support parent-child bonding.
Informing future parents and parents of young children and raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities of the so-called “1,000-day period” is another key focus. The campaign “Becoming a parent also means asking questions” has thus been relaunched since September 26. Its goal is to raise awareness among parents and future parents about this pivotal period and to promote the tools available on the website 1000-premiers-jours.fr, launched in September 2021, which provides parents and future parents with reliable information.
For more information:
