International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume 129, Issue 2, 2015, Pages 146-151

Maternal health and pregnancy outcomes among women of refugee background from Asian countries (Conference Paper)

Gibson-Helm M. , Boyle J. , Cheng I.-H. , East C. , Knight M. , Teede H.*
  • a Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • b Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • c Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • d Monash Women's Maternity Services, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Ritchie Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • e Monash Women's Maternity Services, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • f Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Abstract

Objective To compare maternal health, prenatal care, and pregnancy outcomes among women of refugee background (born in Asian humanitarian source countries [HSCs]) and non-refugee background (born in Asian non-HSCs) at Monash Health (Melbourne, VIC, Australia). Methods In a retrospective study, data were obtained for women born in HSCs and non-HSCs from the same region who received government-funded health care for singleton pregnancies between 2002 and 2011. Multivariable regression analyses assessed associations between maternal HSC origin and pregnancy outcomes. Results Data were included for 1930 women from South Asian HSCs and 7412 from non-HSCs, 107 from Southeast Asian HSCs and 5574 from non-HSCs, 287 from West Asian HSCs and 990 from non-HSCs. Overweight, anemia, and teenage pregnancy were generally more common in the HSC groups. Birth in an HSC was independently associated with poor/no pregnancy care attendance (OR 4.2; 95% CI 2.5-7.3), late booking visit (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.5), and post-term birth (OR 3.0; 95% CI 2.0-4.5) among women from South Asia. For Southeast Asia, HSC birth was independently associated with labor induction (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.5). No independent associations were recorded for West Asia. Conclusion Women born in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iraq, and Myanmar had poorer general maternal health. Those from South Asian HSCs had increased risks of lower engagement in prenatal care, and post-term birth. © 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Bhutan maternal health Pregnancy Asia Iraq Afghanistan Refugee obstetric outcomes Myanmar

Index Keywords

maternal obesity Afghanistan Asian refugee regression analysis prenatal care public health service maternal health South Asian Australia Pregnancy Complications human Refugees Asia statistics and numerical data Iraq priority journal ethnology Bhutan Young Adult Humans anemia Adolescent female pregnancy Myanmar Conference Paper adolescent pregnancy Retrospective Studies pregnancy outcome adult Southeast Asian government term birth utilization maternal welfare high risk pregnancy retrospective study West Asian
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84926516421&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijgo.2014.10.036&partnerID=40&md5=43627e3f3bb1fbcaae356ef7851723cc
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.10.036
ISSN: 00207292
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English