Obstetric Profiles and Pregnancy Outcomes of Immigrant Women in New South Wales, 1990–1992

Abstract

Summary: This study examined the obstetric profiles and pregnancy outcomes of immigrant women in New South Wales (NSW). The source of data was the NSW Midwives Data Collection. The characteristics of 64,922 immigrant women were compared with 189,357 Australian-born non-Aboriginal women who delivered babies between 1990–1992 in NSW. The study demonstrated that immigrant women were older, generally had less private health insurance coverage and fewer teenage pregnancies. Immigrant women showed lower rates of essential hypertension, but higher rates of hepatitis B and gestational diabetes. While induced labour was conducted less frequently among immigrant women, episiotomy, instrumental delivery and Caesarean section were performed more frequently among this group. The incidence of postpartum complications was higher among immigrant women. Differences were assessed among women from European, Asian, Middle Eastern, American, New Zealand/Oceania and African backgrounds. For example, the higher rates of hepatitis B, gestational diabetes, episiotomy, instrumental delivery, Caesarean section, postpartum haemorrhage, third degree tear and puerperal infection among Asian-born women were of concern. By contrast, pregnancies among Middle Eastern-born women were associated with fewer complications in spite of their high parity and high percentage of teenage pregnancies. Infants of immigrant mothers were more likely to be resuscitated and/or admitted to special care nursery/neonatal intensive care unit. These findings in immigrant women in NSW suggested the need for culturally appropriate obstetric services, clinical practice reviews, and the greater involvement of general practitioners in obstetric care.