Introduction and objective:
Multiparous women may experience additional health problems due to their past pregnancies. Place of residence has a significant impact on the health of the mother and her newborn baby, including on perinatal outcomes. Therefore, understanding the differences in perinatal outcomes between women living in rural and urban areas is crucial for shaping health promotion and public health measures. The aim of the study is to examine the association between place of residence and selected perinatal outcomes in multiparous women.

Material and methods:
This retrospective study was based on an analysis of the electronic medical records of women who gave birth at St. Sophia’s Hospital in Warsaw, Poland, between January 2017 – December 2021. The study included only multiparous women. The data analysed included place of residence, medical procedures performed and perinatal outcomes.

Results:
Multiparous women living in rural areas were more likely to give birth prematurely (OR=1.73) and have caesarean delivery (OR=1.21). They were also more likely to have spinal anaesthesia (OR=1.22) and amniotomy (OR=1.23). Babies born to mothers living in rural areas tended to be of lower birth weight (3,480 vs 3,500 grams) than babies born to women living in urban areas.

Conclusions:
The study showed that multiparous women living in rural areas are more likely to experience perinatal complications and undergo different medical procedures during labour than women living in urban areas. The findings demonstrate the need for differentiated perinatal care interventions for women living in rural and urban areas.