Introduction: Immigration, mainly from low socio-economic groups is a growing phenomenon in Latin America, including Chile. These groups may have a higher risk for obstetrical and neonatal pathology. Objectives: To know the rate of deliveries in immigrant mothers in Santiago, Chile and their demographics; To compare the weight and height of their children with that of native mothers (NM). Patients and Methods: In a case control studies a database of pregnant women delivering in the Obstetrics Service of San Borja -Arriarán Hospital was analyzed. For every case of an immigrant pregnant mother (IM) 2 control Chilean mothers (NM) were randomly selected, delivering n the same day in every case, between 1/06/2008 and 30/06/2009. Results: From a total number of 6441 deliveries, 495 were of immigrants (7.6% of total rate; 89% Peruvians) compared with 976 controls. Pregnancy controlled in 97.9% in IM and 99.1% in NM (NS). A lower risk for teenage pregnancy was observed in IM (6.3% versus 15.9%; OR: 0.35; IC: 0.23-0.54); the national figure is 14%. No difference was observed in the rate of women older than 35 years old (15.0 vs 14.3%), or in the primipara (45.8 versus 45.6%). IM had less low birth weight (5.4% versus 8.4%; OR: 0.62; IC 0.39-0.99) (national prevalence: 5.7%), without associations to lower teenage pregnancies. Conclusions: Immigrant mothers from low social-economic level in Santiago, Chile, show a lower proportion of teenage pregnancy and infants with low birth weight. There are no differences in the primiparity rate.

Birth weight Delivery immigrants Pregnancy

controlled study female immigrant pregnant woman Maternal Age adolescent pregnancy body height case control study Article delivery risk low birth weight pregnancy outcome human adult