Likelihood of premature births has diverged for mothers from Scotland’s least and most deprived neighbourhoods

% of babies born prematurely

Most deprived quintile

Least deprived quintile

10%

Start of austerity

8

6

4

1986

1994

2002

2010

2018

Most deprived quintile

Least deprived quintile

10%

Start of austerity

8

6

4

1986

1994

2002

2010

2018

Most deprived quintile

Least deprived quintile

10%

Start of austerity

8

6

4

1982

1986

1990

1994

1998

2002

2006

2010

2014

2018

Most deprived quintile

Least deprived quintile

10%

Start of

austerity

8

6

4

1982

1986

1990

1994

1998

2002

2006

2010

2014

2018

Guardian graphic. Source: European Journal of Public Health, Watson, Walsh, Scott, Carruthers, Fenton, McCartney and Moore. Note: three-year rolling averages (2018 is an average of 2017-19)