Repercusión neonatal de la inmigración: comparación de los periodos 2003–2004 y 2007–2008

Abstract

Background and objectives To describe the characteristics of immigrant women′s newborns in our environment, and to compare them with those of native women. Patients and methods All newborns attended in the Neonatology Unit of Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, between January 2007–December 2008 were included (n=3,177). Pregnant immigrant women were classified in six regions. Twelve diagnoses were defined and their relative risks were calculated. The results were compared with the results obtained in a previous study of the period 2003–2004. Results There were 1,373 native newborns and 1,743 of immigrant origin. Immigrant women showed a higher rate of HBsAg carrier status (RR 4.33), neonatal infection risk (RR 1.24) and also macrosomia (RR 1.4). There were 6 HIV positive pregnant immigrant women compared with 8 Spanish women, and drug abuse was lower in the immigrant group (RR 0.15). There were no significant differences in the rate of other diagnoses. In the comparative rates between both periods there was an increased rate of immigrant women′s newborn. We did not find any differences in the mean birth weight among newborns of immigrant women during both periods of time. HIV and hepatitis C infection remained higher in native pregnant women and hepatitis B infection in immigrant women and gypsy native women. Conclusions The study shows similar results between the two periods with persistence of complications secondary to an inadequate prenatal care, lower drug abuse and moderate increase in HIV and VHC infection in immigrant women and hepatitis B infection in immigrant women and gypsy native women.