European Journal of Public Health
Volume 18, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 460-465

Length of residence and risk of developing hyperemesis gravidarum among first generation immigrants to Norway (Article) (Open Access)

Vikanes Å.* , Grjibovski A.M. , Vangen S. , Magnus P.
  • a Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post box 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway
  • b Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post box 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway
  • c Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post box 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway
  • d Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post box 4404, Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

Background: To estimate the risk of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) among first generation immigrants to Norway by length of residence. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample consisted of first generation immigrants with a prevalence of HG exceeding ethnic Norwegians by 50%, registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). The women were born in Turkey, Middle East, North Africa, Other Africa, Iran, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka and Central and South America, the total sample size is 50 904. MBRN data on HG, age, parity, plurality and sex of the baby were linked to information on country of birth, maternal education and duration of stay obtained from Statistics Norway. Independent associations were studied for each immigrant group and adjusted for potential confounders. To account for dependencies in the sample, a generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach was used. Results: For women from Central and South America, adjusted analysis showed a decrease in the risk of HG by longer residency (P for trend = 0.026). A similar but not significant trend was observed for women born in the Middle East (P for trend = 0.097). Women born in Turkey who had been living in Norway for 6-8 years had a higher risk of HG than newcomers, though no trend was observed (P for trend = 0.127). Women born in Iran and North Africa who lived longer in Norway tended to have a higher risk of developing HG than newcomers (P for trend = 0.083 and 0.118, respectively) Conclusion: Associations between HG and duration of residence in Norway did not show a universal pattern across immigrant groups. Women born in Central and South America had a lower risk of HG with increasing length of residence. Some evidence to the contrary was found for women born in Iran, North Africa and Turkey. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

immigrants Norway Hyperemesis gravidarum Length of residency Prevalence

Index Keywords

hyperemesis gravidarum Pakistan educational status immigrant India Norway human Middle East controlled study Turkey (republic) priority journal Iran Sri Lanka residential area South America female risk factor prevalence Article major clinical study adult North Africa ethnicity disease association
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-52949089984&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fckn051&partnerID=40&md5=2a57428081bc0e4d4ea43961a72c9d50
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckn051
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English