Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Perinatal mortality in non-western migrants in Norway as compared to their countries of birth and to Norwegian women

Authors: Zainab Naimy, Jostein Grytten, Lars Monkerud, Anne Eskild

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

A large number of women from countries with a high perinatal mortality rate (PMR) settle in countries with a low PMR. We compared the PMRs for migrants in Norway with the PMRs in their countries of birth. We also assessed the risk of perinatal death in offspring of migrant women as compared to offspring of Norwegian women.

Methods

The Medical Birth Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Central Person Registry provided data on births in Norway during the years 1986 to 2005 among all women born in Norway, Pakistan, Vietnam, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Iraq, Thailand and Afghanistan. Information on the PMRs in the countries of birth was obtained from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the years 1995, 2000 and 2004. Mean PMRs in Norway during 1986–2005 were calculated by mother’s country of birth, and the risks of perinatal death by country of birth were estimated as odds ratios (OR) using Norwegian women as the reference. Adjustments were made for mother’s age, plurality, parity, year of birth and gestational age at birth.

Results

The PMRs for migrants in Norway were lower than in their countries of birth. The largest difference was in Afghan women (97 deaths per 1000 births in Afghanistan versus 24 deaths per 1000 births in Afghan women in Norway), followed by Iraqi and Somali women. As compared with Norwegian women, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of perinatal death was highest for Afghan (OR 4.01 CI: 2.40 – 6.71), Somali (OR 1.83 CI: 1.44 - 2.34) and Sri Lankan (OR 1.76 CI: 1.36 – 2.27) women.

Conclusions

The lower PMRs for migrants in Norway as compared to the PMRs in their countries of birth may be explained by access to better health care after migration. The increased risk of perinatal death in migrants as compared to Norwegians encourages further research.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Razum O, Samkange-Zeeb F: Populations at special health risk: migrants. International Encyclopedia of Public Health. Volume 6. Edited by: Heggenhougen K. 2008, Oxford: Academic, 233-241. 1CrossRef
2.
Gagnon AJ, Zimbeck M, Zeitlin J: Migration to western industrialised countries and perinatal health: a systematic review. Soc Sci Med. 2009, 69: 934-946. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.06.027.CrossRefPubMed
3.
4.
Gagnon AJ, Zimbeck M, Zeitlin J: Migration and perinatal health surveillance: an international Delphi survey. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010, 149: 37-43. 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.12.002.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Gissler M, Alexander S, MacFarlane A, Small R, Stray-Pedersen B, Zeitlin J, Zimbeck M, Gagnon AJ: Stillbirths and infant deaths among migrants in industrialized countries. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009, 88: 134-148. 10.1080/00016340802603805.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Hayes I, Enohumah K, McCaul C: Care of the migrant obstetric population. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2011, 20: 321-329. 10.1016/j.ijoa.2011.06.008.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Ahman E, Zupan J: Neonatal and perinatal mortality: country, regional and global estimates 2004. 2008, Geneva: World Health Organization
8.
9.
World Health Organization: Neonatal and perinatal mortality 2000, country, regional and global estimates. 2006, Geneva: World Health Organization
10.
World Health Organization: Perinatal mortality, a listing of available information. 1996, Geneva: World Health Organization
11.
Irgens LM: The medical birth registry of Norway. Epidemiological research and surveillance throughout 30 years. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000, 79: 435-439. 10.1080/j.1600-0412.2000.079006435.x.CrossRefPubMed
12.
13.
Kramer MS, Platt RW, Wen SW, Joseph KS, Allen A, Abrahamowicz M, Blondel B, Breart G: A new and improved population-based Canadian reference for birth weight for gestational age. Pediatrics. 2001, 108: 35-35. 10.1542/peds.108.2.e35.CrossRef
14.
Morken NH, Vogel I, Kallen K, Skjaerven R, Langhoff-Roos J, Kesmodel U, Jacobsson B: Reference population for international comparisons and time trend surveillance of preterm delivery proportions in three countries. BMC Womens Health. 2008, 8: 1-16. 10.1186/1472-6874-8-1.CrossRef
15.
Oppedal B, Guribye E, Norwegian and Tamil: Quality of life and social integration in multicultural childhood environments. 2011, Oslo: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
16.
Nagai M, Abraham S, Okamoto M, Kita E, Aoyama A: Reconstruction of health service systems in the post-conflict northern province in Sri Lanka. Health Policy. 2007, 83: 84-93. 10.1016/j.healthpol.2006.12.001.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Vije M, Ratneswaren S: Enduring war and health inequality in Sri Lanka. 2009, United Kingdom: Tamil Information Centre
18.
Simetka O, Reilley B, Joseph M, Collie M, Leidinger J: Obstetrics during civil war: Six months on a maternity ward in mallavi, northern Sri Lanka. Med Confl Surviv. 2002, 18 (3): 258-270. 10.1080/13623690208409634.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Essén B, Hanson BS, Östergren P, Lindquist PG, Gudmundsson S: Increased perinatal mortality among sub-Saharan immigrants in a city-population in Sweden. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000, 79: 737-743.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Smith GD, Chaturvedi N, Harding S, Nazroo J, Williams R: Ethnic inequalities in health: a review of UK epidemiological evidence. Crit Publ Health. 2000, 10 (4): 375-408. 10.1080/09581590010005331.CrossRef
21.
Richardhus JH, Graafmans WC, Verloove-Vanhorick SP, Mackenbach JP: The perinatal mortality rate as an indicator of quality of care in international comparisons. Med Care. 1998, 36: 54-66. 10.1097/00005650-199801000-00007.CrossRef
22.
Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Holan S, Moe N, Magnus P, Harris JR, Stray-Pedersen B: Outcome of pregnancy among immigrant women with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003, 26 (2): 327-332. 10.2337/diacare.26.2.327.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Stene LC, Eidem I, Vangen S, Joner G, Irgens LM, Moe N: The validity of the diabetes mellitus diagnosis in the medical birth registry of Norway. Norw J Epidemiol. 2007, 17 (2): 165-174.
24.
Henriksen K: Facts about 18 immigrant groups in Norway. 2007, Oslo- Kongsvinger: Statistics Norway
25.
Adanu RMK, Johnson TRB: Migration and women’s health. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2009, 106: 179-181. 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.03.036.CrossRef
26.
Tronstad KR: Immigration and immigrants 2004. 2004, Oslo- Kongsvinger: Statistics Norway
27.
Essén B, Johnsdotter S, Hovelius B, Gudmundsson S, Sjöberg NO, Friedman J, Östergren PO: Qualitative study of pregnancy and childbirth experiences in somalian women resident in Sweden. BJOG. 2000, 107: 1507-1512. 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11676.x.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Webster PC: lraq’s Health system yet to heal from ravages of war. Lancet. 2011, 378: 863-866. 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61399-8.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Nasheit N: Perinatal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Iraq. J Mater Fetal Neonatal Med. 2003, 13: 64-67. 10.1080/jmf.13.1.64.67.CrossRef
30.
Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Skjaerven R, Magnus P, Harris J: The heavier the better? birth weight and perinatal mortality in different ethnic groups. Int J Epidemiol. 2002, 31: 654-660. 10.1093/ije/31.3.654.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Lu Y: Test of the ‘healthy migrant hypothesis’: a longitudinal analysis of health selectivity of internal migration in Indonesia. Soc Sci Med. 2008, 67: 1331-1339. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.06.017.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Lie B: Marriage patterns in multicultural Norway. 2004, Oslo - Kongsvinger: Statistics Norway
33.
Stoltenberg C, Magnus P, Lie RT, Daltveit AK, Irgens LM: Influence of consanguinity and maternal education on risk of stillbirth and infant death in Norway, 1967–1993. Am J Epidemiol. 1998, 148 (5): 452-459. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009670.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Stray-Pedersen B: Complaints and complications in pregnancy: a study of ethnic Norwegian and ethnic Pakistani women in Oslo. Ethn Health. 1999, 4: 19-28. 10.1080/13557859998155.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Saastad E, Vangen S, Frederik Froen J: Suboptimal care in stillbirths – a retrospective audit study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007, 86: 444-450. 10.1080/00016340701207724.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Alderliesten M, Vrijkotte T, Van Der Wal M, Bonsel G: Late start of antenatal care among ethnic minorities in a large cohort of pregnant women. BJOG. 2007, 114: 1232-1239. 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01438.x.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Essén B, Bödker B, Sjöberg NO, Langhoff-Roos J, Greisen G, Gudmundsson S, Östergren PO: Are some perinatal deaths in immigrant groups linked to suboptimal perinatal care services?. BJOG. 2002, 109: 677-682.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Johansen REB, Sundby J, Stray-Pedersen B: Perinatal complications among ethnic Somalis in Norway. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2002, 81: 317-322. 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2002.810407.x.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Perinatal mortality in non-western migrants in Norway as compared to their countries of birth and to Norwegian women
Authors
Zainab Naimy
Jostein Grytten
Lars Monkerud
Anne Eskild
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-37

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Public Health 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research article

Exploring differences in Canadian adult men and women with Diabetes management: results from the Canadian Community Health Survey

Research article

Intention to voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) among health professionals in Jimma zone, Ethiopia: the theory of planned behavior (TPB) perspective

Research article

Vulnerability to HIV infection among female drug users in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Research article

Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in resource-limited settings: assessment of 99 Viramune Donation Programmes in 34 countries, 2000–2011

Research article

Assessment of the core and support functions of the Integrated Disease Surveillance system in Maharashtra, India

Research article

Identifying women at risk for delayed presentation of breast cancer: a cross-sectional study in Estonia