Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 19, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 1469-1487

Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes Among Immigrant Women in the US and Europe: A Systematic Review (Review)

Villalonga-Olives E.* , Kawachi I. , von Steinbüchel N.
  • a Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Georg-Augst-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Landmark Center West, 401 Park Drive, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, United States
  • b Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Landmark Center West, 401 Park Drive, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, United States
  • c Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Georg-Augst-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

Abstract

Human migration is not a new phenomenon, but it has changed significantly with the advance of globalization. We focus on differences in the published literature concerning migration and health (EU vs the US), centering specifically on reproductive health outcomes. We conducted a literature search in the Pubmed and Embase databases. We reviewed papers that contrast migrants to native-born populations and analyzed differences between countries as well as challenges for future research. The prevalence of low birthweight among migrants varies by the host country characteristics as well as the composition of migrants to different regions. The primary driver of migrant health is the migrant “regime” in different countries at specific periods of time. Future health outcomes of immigrants will depend on the societal characteristics (legal protections, institutions and health systems) of host countries. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Migration systematic reviews Birth weight Small for gestational age

Index Keywords

Emigrants and Immigrants female health status Humans pregnancy Birth Weight ethnology Europe United States pregnancy outcome human epidemiology migrant
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84983376189&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-016-0483-2&partnerID=40&md5=a874df8c274bd46cd2c3ef11539791b3
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0483-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English