Research data

The project research data are based on information obtained from national health registers maintained by THL and Kela.

The base data consist of mothers who gave birth between 1996 and 2020 and their children as well as induced abortions. The information on children and mothers was obtained from the Medical Birth Register (THL) and on induced abortions from the Register on Induced Abortions (THL). Information on malformations was obtained from the Register of Congenital Malformations (THL).

Information on drug use during pregnancy and long-term illnesses of mothers was obtained from the Register of Reimbursed Prescription Drugs and the Special Refund Entitlement Register maintained by Kela. The data are supplemented annually.

Drug use during pregnancy

Drug use during pregnancy is studied separately for pregnancies ending in delivery and induced abortion, mainly during pregnancy and/or the month preceding it. The frequency of long-term illnesses among pregnant women is studied on the basis of their eligibility for special refund or restricted basic refund granted by Kela, which are effective during pregnancy.

The frequency of drug use is determined by examining the number and proportion of people who bought drugs reimbursed by Kela. Drug purchases are investigated at all levels of the international Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification.

Child health in the perinatal period

The subject of the investigation is the effect of drug use during pregnancy on the health of the child in the perinatal period. Both live born and stillborn babies are studied.

Drug exposure and malformations

The connection between drug use during pregnancy and the prevalence of malformations is studied in live born and stillborn babies as well as in pregnancies that have been terminated due to fetal abnormality. The malformation data consist of cases in which the baby or the fetus has at least one significant malformation.