title: Birth Tourism and Neonatal Intensive Care: A Children's Hospital Experience.
abstract: ObjectiveThe aim of this article is to examine characteristics of birth tourism (BT) neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).MethodsThis was a retrospective review over 3 years; BT cases were identified, and relevant perinatal, medical, social, and financial data were collected and compared with 100 randomly selected non-birth tourism neonates.ResultsA total of 46 BT neonates were identified. They were more likely to be born to older women (34 vs. 29 years;p< 0.001), via cesarean delivery (72 vs. 48%;p= 0.007), and at a referral facility (80 vs. 32%;p< 0.001). BT group had longer hospital stay (15 vs. 7 days;p= 0.02), more surgical intervention (50 vs. 21%;p< 0.001), and higher hospital charges (median $287,501 vs. $103,105;p= 0.003). One-third of BT neonates were enrolled in public health insurance program and four BT neonates (10%) were placed for adoption.ConclusionFamilies of BT neonates admitted to the NICU face significant challenges. Larger studies are needed to better define impacts on families, health care system, and society.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikhael
authors.affiliation: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Danh V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D057193:Medical Tourism / Q000191:economics*; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult