title: Pregnancy outcome of migrant women delivering in a public institution in northern Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  European societies are facing a wave of incoming immigrants and the needs of a new multiethnic obstetrical population. It remains controversial whether native and immigrant women have equivalent pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perinatal indicators of the obstetric outcome were monitored in all delivering women during a 5-year period in a large academic public general hospital. We compared rates of preterm deliveries, low birth weight, cesarean section during labor, perineal tears, and fetal acidemia in the native and immigrant parturients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immigrant women experienced very low birth weight (p < 0.005) and preterm deliveries (p < 0.05), more often than natives did. Among ethnic groups, data singled out Sub-Saharan African women to be at a higher risk for very small premature babies and cesarean section during labor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are differences in perinatal outcome between immigrant and Italian woman; within the large migrant population, ethnic groups show wide disparities and challenge the health provider differently. Special attention to women at a higher risk may reduce fetal-maternal morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Reproduction, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. giovanni.zanconato@univr.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanconato
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iacovella
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult