Childbirths and the Prevalence of Potential Risk Factors for Adverse Perinatal Outcomes among Asylum Seekers in The Netherlands: A Five-Year Cross-Sectional Study

Julia B. Tankink, Anouk E. H. Verschuuren, Ineke R. Postma, Peggy J. A. van der Lans, Johanna P. de Graaf, Jelle Stekelenburg and Annelies W. Mesman
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Julia B. Tankink: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Anouk E. H. Verschuuren: Global Health Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
Ineke R. Postma: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
Peggy J. A. van der Lans: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Twente ZGT/MST, 7512 KZ Enschede, The Netherlands
Johanna P. de Graaf: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jelle Stekelenburg: Global Health Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
Annelies W. Mesman: Netherlands Association for Community Health Services (GGD GHOR Nederland), Zwarte Woud 2, 3524 SJ Utrecht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: This five-year cross-sectional study mapped the prevalence of several known risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in asylum-seeking women in The Netherlands. Characteristics of 2831 registered childbirths among residents of asylum seekers centers (ASCs) in The Netherlands from 2016 to 2020 were included. Results showed a high general and teenage birthrate (2.15 and 6.77 times higher compared to the Dutch, respectively). Most mothers were pregnant upon arrival, and the number of births was highest in the second month of stay in ASCs. Another peak in births between 9 and 12 months after arrival suggested that many women became pregnant shortly after arrival in The Netherlands. Furthermore, 69.5 percent of all asylum-seeking women were relocated between ASCs at least once during pregnancy, which compromises continuity of care. The high prevalence of these risk factors in our study population might explain the increased rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes in asylum seekers compared to native women found in earlier studies. Incorporating migration-related indicators in perinatal health registration is key to support future interventions, policies, and research. Ultimately, our findings call for tailored and timely reproductive and perinatal healthcare for refugee women who simultaneously face the challenges of resettlement and pregnancy.

Keywords: asylum seekers; pregnancy; risk factors; refugees; perinatal health; health inequities; teenage birthrate; length of stay; relocations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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