Pregnancy Outcomes in Foreign-born and US-born Women

Objectives: To compare pregnancy outcomes between foreign-born women and women born in the United States (US-born).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study (1991-2001) of all deliveries at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Results: Among 49,904 deliveries, 27% were to foreign-born mothers representing 164 countries grouped into eight geographic regions. Compared with US-born women, foreign-born women had a higher mean birthweight (3315 vs. 3083 g), and a lower risk of preterm delivery (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.43-0.49), perinatal mortality (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.36-0.45), hypertension (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.23-0.41), and HIV infection (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.10-0.18). However, foreign-born women had an increased risk of diabetes (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.48-1.79), perineal laceration (RR 1.71; 95% CI 1.66-1.76), and postpartum hemorrhage (RR 1.10; 95% CI 1.05-1.15).

Conclusions: Foreign-born women have better health behaviors, pregnancy outcomes, and a lower risk of infectious diseases than US-born women, but they have a higher risk of certain medical conditions and obstetric complications.