Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
Volume 23, Issue 7, 2010, Pages 627-632

Maternal and neonatal characteristics of an immigrant population in an Italian hospital (Article)

Zuppa A.A. , Orchi C. , Calabrese V. , Verrillo G. , Perrone S. , Pasqualini P. , Cota F. , Ranno O. , Valentini P. , Giannantonio C. , Cardiello V. , Romagnoli C.
  • a Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • b Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • c Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • d Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • e Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • f Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • g Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • h Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
  • i Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
  • j Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • k Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
  • l Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy

Abstract

Objective.The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the maternal and neonatal immigrant population and to compare it with the Italian population in the Agostino Gemelli Hospital (Rome). Methods.This study was a prospective population-based study. We compared 595 newborns from immigrant mothers with 2413 newborns from Italian mothers. Neonatal characteristics included in this study were sex, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, transfer to pathology units, minor pathologies, and type of breastfeeding at discharge. Maternal characteristics included nationality, age, parity, type of delivery, twin birth, and pathology during the pregnancy. Results.Immigrant newborns comprised 20 of the total births included in the study. No statistically significant differences were found between immigrant and Italian newborns in gestational age, birth weight, or Apgar score. Immigrant newborns were transferred to the Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit more frequently than Italian newborns, had a significantly higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia and a higher rate of exclusive and prevalent breastfeeding at discharge. Immigrant mothers came predominantly from Eastern Europe, were younger and had caesarean sections less frequently than Italian mothers. Conclusion.No significant differences in biological and clinical characteristics or in medical practice were found between groups, except for a higher frequency of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and an inclination among immigrant mothers toward breastfeeding. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd.

Author Keywords

Immigrant Newborn Jaundice breastfeeding

Index Keywords

Infant, Newborn, Diseases hyperbilirubinemia Multiple Birth Offspring Pregnancy, Multiple prospective study population physiology demography hospital discharge Pregnancy Complications human immigration statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal Hospitals, Maternity Breast Feeding Young Adult Humans migrant Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants female newborn Apgar score pregnancy Mothers Incidence Article pregnancy outcome major clinical study mother adult multiple pregnancy histopathology parity Italy hospital Birth Weight citizenship gestational age cesarean section
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77953648978&doi=10.3109%2f14767050903258761&partnerID=40&md5=389130f747f3b7072342996a5f205591
DOI: 10.3109/14767050903258761
ISSN: 14767058
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English