The perinatal health of immigrant women in France: a nationally representative study

Fabienne El-Khoury Lesueur (), Anne-Laure Sutter-Dallay, Lidia Panico, Elie Azria, Judith Waerden, Nolwenn Regnault Vauvillier, Marie-Aline Charles and Maria Melchior
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Fabienne El-Khoury Lesueur: INSERM, Sorbonne Université
Anne-Laure Sutter-Dallay: University of Bordeaux
Elie Azria: INSERM, UMR 1153, DHU Risk in Pregnancy
Judith Waerden: INSERM, Sorbonne Université
Nolwenn Regnault Vauvillier: Santé Publique France
Marie-Aline Charles: INSERM, UMR1153, Paris Descartes University, France
Maria Melchior: INSERM, Sorbonne Université

International Journal of Public Health, 2018, vol. 63, issue 9, No 6, 1027-1036

Abstract: Abstract Objectives Despite the healthy migrant effect, immigrants and descendants of immigrants face health challenges and socio-economic difficulties. The objective of this study is to examine the perinatal health of women of migrant origin. Methods The nationwide French ELFE (Etude Longitudinale Française Depuis l’Enfance) birth cohort study recruited approximately 18,000 women. We studied pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as tobacco, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy according to migrant status and region of origin. Results Women from North Africa and Turkey had a higher risk of pre-pregnancy overweight and GDM, while women from Eastern Europe and Asia had a lower risk of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, but a higher risk of GDM compared to non-immigrants. Women from Sub-Saharan Africa had a higher risk of being overweight or obese pre-pregnancy. Compared to non-immigrants, immigrants—but not descendants of immigrants—had lower levels of tobacco smoking, while descendants of immigrants were less likely to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Conclusions Pregnant women of migrant origin have particular health needs and should benefit from a medical follow-up which addresses those needs.

Keywords: Migrant; Women; Maternal health; Pregnancy; Overweight; Obesity; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Smoking; Alcohol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1146-y

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