European Journal of Public Health
Volume 20, Issue 5, 2010, Pages 536-542

High perinatal mortality rate among immigrants in Brussels (Article) (Open Access)

Racape J.* , De Spiegelaere M. , Alexander S. , Dramaix M. , Buekens P. , Haelterman E.
  • a Département de Biostatistique, Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
  • b Observatoire de la Santéet du Social de Bruxelles-Capitale, Brussels, Belgium
  • c Health Policies and Health Systems Department, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
  • d Département de Biostatistique, Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
  • e School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • f Département de Biostatistique, Ecole de Santé Publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, Observatoire de la Santéet du Social de Bruxelles-Capitale, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Background: The relation between immigration status and perinatal mortality is unclear. The objective of this study is to describe and measure inequalities in perinatal mortality and causes of perinatal deaths according to maternal nationality and socioeconomic status. Methods: A population-based cohort study related to all babies born during the period of 1998-2006 whose mothers were living in Brussels, irrespective of the place of delivery. Perinatal and post-perinatal mortality were analysed according to the nationality and sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers at birth. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for the association between mortality and nationality. Results: The women of sub-Saharan Africa experience a 50% excess in perinatal mortality, which primarily reflects a high rate of preterm deliveries and low birth weight, as well as a low socioeconomic level. Paradoxically, despite their favourable rates of preterm and low-birth-weight births, Maghrebian and Turkish women experience a strong excess (50-70%) of perinatal mortality caused primarily by congenital anomalies. Differences in age, parity distributions and multiple births play no significant role, and the excess does not reflect low socioeconomic levels. This excess of perinatal mortality contrasts with the absence of an excess of post-perinatal mortality. Conclusion: In Brussels, patterns of inequalities in perinatal mortality and causes of perinatal deaths vary according to nationality; perinatal mortality is increased in particular ethnic groups independently of socioeconomic status and maternal characteristics. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

inequalities pregnancy outcomes perinatal mortality nationality health care

Index Keywords

demography perinatal mortality Population Surveillance human Cohort Studies statistics ethnology Residence Characteristics Young Adult Humans Infant, Newborn female newborn pregnancy Belgium Article pregnancy outcome adult migration cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration stillbirth social class cause of death Healthcare Disparities health care disparity gestational age health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77957357293&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckq060&partnerID=40&md5=df5ed172f0865cf3958fd32845597a86
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq060
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English