The risk of giving birth to a stillborn child or a child with severe congenital anomaly is higher for women who have immigrated to Europe as compared to the majority population in the receiving country. The literature, however, reveals great differences between migrant groups, even within migrants from low-income countries, although there is no clear pattern regarding refugee or non-refugee status. This heterogeneity argues against a particular migration-related explanation. There are social disparities in stillbirth risk worldwide, and it has been suggested that the demonstrated ethnic disparity is a result of the socioeconomic disadvantage most migrants face. Consanguinity has been considered as another cause for the increased stillbirth risk and the high risk of congenital anomaly observed in many migrant groups. Utilization and quality of care during pregnancy and childbirth is the third major aspect. All three factors seem to contribute to stillbirth risk, and they should be considered in clinical practice and public health. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Migrants Prenatal care consanguinity Stillbirth Socioeconomic factors congenital abnormalities

Africa south of the Sahara prenatal care Europe developing country perinatal mortality health disparity Health Status Disparities Developing Countries human epidemiology industrialization risk assessment statistics and numerical data Developed Countries priority journal morbidity clinical practice fetus mortality ethnology social status migrant Humans Emigrants and Immigrants female consanguinity Congenital Abnormalities risk factor congenital malformation Risk Factors socioeconomics Socioeconomic Factors pregnancy Article developed country patient attitude Reproductive Health prenatal screening stillbirth Patient Acceptance of Health Care Healthcare Disparities health care disparity Health Services Accessibility public health health care delivery