Pregnancy in immigrant women.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to study how foreign women face pregnancy and childbirth in a society quite different from their own.


METHODS
In 2004 we studied 328 pregnant women at the Department of Gynaecology at the "General Hospital Umberto I" in Rome. Information on patients' personal lives and experiences was collected.


RESULTS
Women were classified into six (6) groups based on nationality, race, religion and culture.


CONCLUSIONS
Arabian women had the most natural childbirths. African women had a longer duration of gestation. Women from Eastern Europe underwent frequent tests and examinations, but had the highest chance of having preterm births. Chinese women did not usually undergo many examinations and were able to tolerate pain during childbirth quite well.
Corosu
R
R
Department of Gynaecological Science, Perinatology and Child Welfare, University of Rome La Sapienza, General Hospital Umberto I, Italy.
Fedeli
A
A
Rossetti
A
A
Mancino
P
P
D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000208:ethnology