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 wards, followed by a follow-up survey two months after delivery, to gather information on their health and that of their newborn(s). For this edition, the French overseas departments and regions (DROM) are being studied specifically through the creation of larger samples (ENP-DROM 2021).
Background of the Survey
Professionals working in the perinatal field require detailed, reliable, and regularly updated national data. Knowledge of key health indicators is essential for monitoring trends, guiding prevention policies, and evaluating medical practices.
The National Perinatal Surveys collect information on the health status of mothers and newborns, as well as medical practices during pregnancy and childbirth. They have been conducted approximately every 5 years for the past 30 years, over the course of one week in maternity wards, and cover approximately 13,000 to 15,000 newborns, depending on the year.
To provide the overseas territories with specific data, Santé Publique France and the Regional Health Agencies have extended the fieldwork for this new edition of the ENP to include Réunion, Mayotte, Guadeloupe/Saint-Martin, and Martinique. The 2021 ENP in the French Overseas Departments and Regions (ENP-DROM 2021) uses the same methodology as the ENP and allows for a sample of approximately 3,700 births, compared to approximately 620 births in the ENP without the extended survey period.
Survey Process
Population and Timeline
The survey covers all children born in all public and private maternity hospitals and birthing centers according to the schedule below:
| Location | Date |
|---|---|
| Mainland France and French Guiana | - one week from March 15 to 21, 2021- or over two consecutive weeks (every other day) between March 8 and 28 for maternity hospitals with a high volume of births |
| Réunion | March 15 to April 11, 2021 |
| Mayotte | October 25 to December 5, 2021 |
| Guadeloupe / Saint Martin | March 15 to May 16, 2021 |
| Martinique | March 15 to June 20, 2021 |
Stages of the survey
Stage 1: At birth in the maternity ward
A midwife-researcher interviews women in the maternity ward during a 15-minute session about their living conditions, prenatal care, and preventive behaviors.
The interview is supplemented by information gathered from the medical record, including pregnancy complications, the course of delivery, and the health status of the mother and newborn.
Step 2: At 2 months via the web or by phone
This involves a questionnaire lasting about 20 minutes covering: the health of the woman and child since returning home, the women’s perceptions of the care received during pregnancy and childbirth, exposure to cosmetic products, and the child’s diet.
Step 3: Analysis of health insurance data for the mother and child
The goal is to supplement the previous data with information on medical care derived from health insurance records (visits to private practitioners, hospital stays, medications, chronic conditions, etc.) covering a period beginning before pregnancy and extending until the child is 1 year old.
For women giving birth in Mayotte, the survey is conducted exclusively in the maternity ward. There is no questionnaire during the child’s first two months, nor is information collected from the health insurance system.
Mothers may exercise their right to opt out at any stage of the survey.
Topics Covered
These questionnaires focus on:
women’s socio-demographic status
women’s health before pregnancy
pregnancy care
prevention during pregnancy
obstetric complications
the course of childbirth
the child’s health
breastfeeding in the maternity ward
risky behaviors (tobacco use, etc.)
screening for intrauterine growth restriction
the composition of the medical and paramedical team in the delivery room
the management of labor and delivery
pain management
the partner’s presence during prenatal care and at delivery
returning home after childbirth
women’s well-being and mental health
Violence against women
health literacy
the child’s sleeping arrangement
A few specific questions for the DROMs are included in the 2-month questionnaire. They concern:
the consumption of raw rice, ice cubes, or dirt during pregnancy
flu and pertussis vaccinations for family members
remote consultations with a healthcare professional
consultations with a healthcare professional regarding the mother’s diabetes and diet
difficulties encountered during breastfeeding
Organizers and Partners
The 2021 ENP is overseen by Inserm in collaboration with Santé publique France, the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics, the Directorate General for Health, and the Directorate General for Healthcare Provision.
The ENP-DROM is under the responsibility of Santé publique France, in conjunction with the regional health agencies of the DROMs.
Epifane ancillary survey
At the end of the 2-month follow-up, a sub-sample of 3,554 women from metropolitan France is randomly selected to participate in the 2021 Epifane survey to allow for extended follow-up of the mother and her child throughout the child’s first year. It focuses in particular on the child’s diet and the health of mothers and children during this period.
Regulatory Authorizations
The ENP and ENP-DROM are public-interest surveys classified as non-interventional research involving human subjects that have received favorable opinions from the Committee for the Protection of Persons (CPP):
ENP 2021: July 7, 2020 (internal reference CPP Ouest II: 2020-38; RCB ID No.: 2020-A00741-38)
ENP-DROM 2021: November 30, 2020 (internal reference CPP Ile de France IV: 2020/107; RCB ID No.: 2020-A02147-32)
The ENP and ENP-DROM process personal data based on public interest and authorized by the National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (CNIL):
ENP 2021: CNIL Authorization DR-2020-391 dated December 31, 2020
ENP-DROM 2021: CNIL Authorization DR-2021-067 dated March 19, 2021
