This paper examines trends in perinatal outcomes among migrant mothers in the UK, and it explores potential contributors to disparities focusing on pregnancy, birth and the first year of life. Trends in perinatal outcomes indicate that ethnic minority grouping, regardless of migrant status, is a significant risk factor for unfavourable outcomes. It is unclear whether migrant status per se adds to this risk as within-group comparisons between UK-born and foreign-born women show variable findings. The role of biological and behavioural factors in producing excess unfavourable outcomes among ethnic minority mothers, although indicated, is yet to be fully understood. UK policies have salient aspects that address ethnic inequalities, but their wide focus obscures provisions for migrant mothers. Direct associations between socio-economic factors, ethnicity and adverse infant outcomes are evident. Evidence is consistent about differential access to and utilisation of health services among ethnic minority mothers, in particular recently arrived migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UK Perinatal outcomes disparities Ethnicity Migrant mothers

maternal care refugee maternal health health care policy developing country health disparity Health Status Disparities Developing Countries human Refugees epidemiology statistics and numerical data social determinants of health priority journal ethnology asylum seeker Humans migrant Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Behavior socioeconomics pregnancy child health Article health care utilization pregnancy outcome migration health care access United Kingdom patient attitude Perinatal Care maternal welfare Patient Acceptance of Health Care ethnicity Health Policy Infant Health Health Services Accessibility health care delivery