Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume 31, Issue 6, 2011, Pages 480-482

The obstetric performance of Chinese immigrants residing in the UK (Article)

Shah D. , Tay A. , Desai A. , Parikh M. , Nauta M. , Yoong W.*
  • a UCH and Royal Free Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom
  • b UCH and Royal Free Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom
  • c UCH and Royal Free Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom
  • d UCH and Royal Free Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom
  • e Morris House Surgery, Tottenham, United Kingdom
  • f Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London N18 1QX, United Kingdom

Abstract

Although the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths raised concerns that immigrant women have significantly poorer obstetric outcomes when compared to native women, there is little published data on the obstetric outcomes of Chinese immigrants living in the UK. This retrospective, casecontrol study compared maternal demographics and obstetric outcomes of Chinese with British Caucasian women matched for parity and age, who served as controls. Data from 125 index and 125 control cases were analysed. A total of 74% of the Chinese women had little or no understanding of English. The Chinese women were more likely to be non-smokers, have a lower BMI and be unemployed than their British counterparts (p < 0.001). They booked later (21.01 vs 15.35 weeks, p < 0.0001) and attended on average one less antenatal clinic than controls (p < 0.001). Chinese women were also less likely to deliver by caesarean section (p < 0.05), but more likely to have a perineal tear (p < 0.005). Pre-defined risk, gestation at delivery, birth weight, duration of labour, estimated blood loss and mean 5 min Apgar scores were comparable in both groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there are significant differences in access to healthcare and the method of delivery, but overall, the obstetric outcomes of both ethnic groups are highly similar. This may be due to the 'healthy immigrant effect' or the increased use of interpreters and linkworkers in obstetric healthcare. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.

Author Keywords

Immigrant Chinese obstetric outcomes

Index Keywords

immigrant Chinese Maternal Age labor onset demography Pregnancy Complications human Asian continental ancestry group prenatal period controlled study priority journal Great Britain Humans Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors perineum Apgar score bleeding pregnancy Article Retrospective Studies pregnancy outcome major clinical study adult health care access United Kingdom parity Case-Control Studies pregnant woman retrospective study Delivery of Health Care Birth Weight body mass case control study Body Mass Index gestational age cesarean section
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80051480242&doi=10.3109%2f01443615.2011.580396&partnerID=40&md5=02a1f090c2be264e946de1f60aa7ad87
DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2011.580396
ISSN: 01443615
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English