Outcome of pregnancy for immigrant women: a retrospective study [L'outcome della gravidanza nella donna immigrata: studio retrospettivo]

Abstract AIM: Italy is experiencing a continuous increase in female immigration and, as a consequence, the number of births by immigrant mothers. The objective of our study was therefore to compare indices for maternal-foetal wellbeing as regards immigrant as opposed to autochthonous pregnant women. METHODS: An analysis was made of CEDAP data from 2001 to 2008 concerning parturients at Udine Obstetric and Gynaecological Clinic, DRG clinical data for 2008 and clinical records for 2008 of foreign parturients: the focus was on which geographical area they came from, hypertensive and metabolic symptoms during pregnancy, maternal serology, gestational period up to childbirth, weight at birth, Apgar index, duration of hospitalisation for the mother and infant. RESULTS: The study covered 13,352 women of whom 2,139 were foreigners, while 363 of the latter gave birth in 2008. In terms of geographical area the largest group of immigrants came from Eastern Europe, followed by sub-Saharan African and Arab countries. The worst outcome of pregnancy was found in African women, who showed the highest incidence of chronic hypertension, pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia and they also developed gestational diabetes more frequently, although a high incidence was also seen for Eastern European and Arab women. Furthermore, African women were found to be HIV-seropositive more frequently, showed a greater tendency to preterm or severely preterm birth, with a significantly lower weight and Apgar at birth compared to all other immigrant women. As a result, African women and infants remained in hospital for a longer period. CONCLUSION: Monitoring, both pre-conceptional and during pregnancy, needs to be intensified, especially among African mothers, in order to reduce the maternal-foetal disadvantage when compared to other women.