RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evidence of disparities in the provision of the maternal postpartum 6-week check in primary care in England, 2015–2018: an observational study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 239 OP 246 DO 10.1136/jech-2021-216640 VO 76 IS 3 A1 Yangmei Li A1 Jennifer J Kurinczuk A1 Christopher Gale A1 Dimitrios Siassakos A1 Claire Carson YR 2022 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/76/3/239.abstract AB Background A maternal postpartum 6-week check (SWC) with a general practitioner (GP) is now considered an essential service in England, a recent policy change intended to improve women’s health. We aimed to provide an up-to-date snapshot of the prevalence of SWC prior to the policy change as a baseline, and to explore factors associated with having a late or no check.Methods We conducted a cohort study using primary care records in England (Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)). 34 337 women who gave birth between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 and had ≥12 weeks of follow-up post partum were identified in the CPRD Pregnancy Register. The proportion who had evidence of an SWC with a GP was calculated, and regression analysis was used to assess the association between women’s characteristics and risks of a late or no check.Results Sixty-two per cent (95% CI 58% to 67%) of women had an SWC recorded at their GP practice within 12 weeks post partum, another 27% had other consultations. Forty per cent had an SWC at the recommended 6–8 weeks, 2% earlier and 20% later. A late or no check was more common among younger women, mothers of preterm babies or those registered in more deprived areas.Conclusions Nearly 40% of women did not have a postpartum SWC recorded. Provision or uptake was not equitable; younger women and those in more deprived areas were less likely to have a record of such check, suggesting postpartum care in general practice may be missing some women who need it most.Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. The data that support the findings of this study are available from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under licence for this study. The data were provided by the CPRD under a contractual agreement that does not permit the sharing of data. Study documentation is available on request from the corresponding author. The data that support the findings of this study are available from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. The data were provided by the CPRD under a contractual agreement that does not permit the sharing of data. Study documentation is available on request from the corresponding author.