Migrants from conflict-affected areas had a 3.5-fold risk for delayed prenatal care.
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Less prenatal visits prior to term birth compared with country-born parturients.
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No differences in prepartum hospitalization between migrants and country-born parturients.
Abstract
Background
The 2015 refugee crisis led into a forced migration of millions of people globally. As a consequence, many countries experienced a quick change in the proportion of conflict-area born migrants. This group being stated as an especially vulnerable group for suboptimal maternal health, a timely inspection of preventive maternity care was required. This study investigated prenatal care in terms of gestation trimester at the first prenatal visit, number of check-ups prior to birth, and prepartum hospitalization in conflict-country born migrants and Finnish parturients in Finland.
Material and methods
Cross-sectional study included all pregnancies of migrants born in conflict-affected countries (n = 3 155) and country-born parturients (n = 93 600) in Finland in 2015–16. The data were obtained through Medical Birth Registry and Population Information System. Statistical analysis employed T-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related background variables.
Results
Migrant parturients had a higher probability for delayed enter in prenatal care compared with Finnish-born parturients (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 3.46; 95% Confidence Interval CI 3.06, 3.91). Recommended minimum number of check-ups was participated by 95.3% of the migrant, and 96.4% of the Finnish-born group (P <0.000). Migrants’ probability for more than ten visits prior to term birth was significantly lower (aOR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.51, 0.66). No significant differences in prepartum hospitalization yielded between the groups.
Conclusions
Migrant parturients had significantly smaller number of check-ups and later entry in care compared with the country-born parturients. These findings add to earlier reported challenges in the organizing of conflict-affected country born migrants’ prenatal care in a high-income setting, in which the proportion of conflict-area born migrants has risen rapidly and unexpectedly.
