title: Perinatal outcomes among migrant mothers in the United Kingdom: Is it a matter of biology, behaviour, policy, social determinants or access to health care?
abstract: This paper examines trends in perinatal outcomes among migrant mothers in the UK, and it explores potential contributors to disparities focusing on pregnancy, birth and the first year of life. Trends in perinatal outcomes indicate that ethnic minority grouping, regardless of migrant status, is a significant risk factor for unfavourable outcomes. It is unclear whether migrant status per se adds to this risk as within-group comparisons between UK-born and foreign-born women show variable findings. The role of biological and behavioural factors in producing excess unfavourable outcomes among ethnic minority mothers, although indicated, is yet to be fully understood. UK policies have salient aspects that address ethnic inequalities, but their wide focus obscures provisions for migrant mothers. Direct associations between socio-economic factors, ethnicity and adverse infant outcomes are evident. Evidence is consistent about differential access to and utilisation of health services among ethnic minority mothers, in particular recently arrived migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Education and Leadership, Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury, Hitchin Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8LE, UK. Electronic address: shuby.puthussery@beds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shuby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puthussery
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D000068104:Infant Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068097:Maternal Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012036:Refugees; D064890:Social Determinants of Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: UK; disparities; ethnicity; migrant mothers; perinatal outcomes