Preferences for labor and delivery practices between pregnant immigrants and U.S.-born patients: a comparative prospective antenatal survey study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare preferences in pregnant Somali and Sudanese immigrants with US-born women for different labor and delivery procedures and practices.


METHODS
Pregnant women who received prenatal care services at the Jericho Road Family Practice were surveyed. Ninety-three consecutive patients agreed to participate. A translator-facilitated questionnaire was administered to Somali-, Sudanese-, and U.S.-born women during antenatal visits.


RESULTS
For pain relief in labor, 66.7% of U.S.-born, 64.0% of Somali, and 12.5% of Sudanese women preferred epidural analgesia (p = .002). More U.S.-born women preferred for the umbilical cord to be cut by their partners (76.2%) vs. Somali (6.7%) and Sudanese (0%) (p < .001). For infant feeding, more U.S.-born women (47%) preferred only formula feeding (Somali, 3.4%; Sudanese, 0%; p < .001). Responses were not statistically different for other preference questions, such as mobility/position in labor, attendants in labor, and duration of hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective survey quantifies the differences in preferences for labor and delivery practices from two foreign populations and from U.S.-born women. This information is useful for all physicians who wish to better meet the needs of individual patients, especially those who are from different cultures and backgrounds.
Ogunleye
Oluseyi
O
Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Shelton
James A
JA
Ireland
Anna
A
Glick
Myron
M
Yeh
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000208:ethnology*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D013397:Sudan / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult