Data collection
PregDem draws on a variety of data sources, the most important being the Swedish Pregnancy Panel at Sahlgrenska University Hospital SU/Östra, the Swedish Citizen Panel, and the Swedish Pregnancy Register.
The Pregnancy Panel
Nearly 7,000 pregnant women and their partners were recruited to the Pregnancy Panel through in-person recruitment at the ultrasound clinic at the largest hospital in the Gothenburg region, between 16 September 2019 and 18 March 2020. Participants completed a total of three surveys during pregnancy and three surveys after birth (when the child was two months, one year and two years old). Survey responses were linked to medical data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register, a national quality register for maternity care, prenatal diagnostics and obstetric care.
Technical documentation about the Prengancy Panel's design, recruitment, and survey waves is available here:
The Swedish Citizen Panel
At the time of our data collection, the Swedish Citizen Panel included around 75,000 respondents. PregDem participated between 2015 and 2020 by asking panelists every six months whether they or their partner were pregnant, allowing us to follow individuals before they become pregnant.
The SOM surveys
Every year, nearly 20,000 Swedes respond to questions on topics ranging from politics and media to lifestyle, health and leisure. The SOM surveys have been conducted since 1986 to track how Swedish society develops and to follow public opinion over time. PregDem participates in the national SOM survey and the Gothenburg SOM survey.
