The obstetric performance of Chinese immigrants residing in the UK

Abstract

Although the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths raised concerns that immigrant women have significantly poorer obstetric outcomes when compared to native women, there is little published data on the obstetric outcomes of Chinese immigrants living in the UK. This retrospective, case–control study compared maternal demographics and obstetric outcomes of Chinese with British Caucasian women matched for parity and age, who served as controls. Data from 125 index and 125 control cases were analysed. A total of 74% of the Chinese women had little or no understanding of English. The Chinese women were more likely to be non-smokers, have a lower BMI and be unemployed than their British counterparts (p < 0.001). They booked later (21.01 vs 15.35 weeks, p < 0.0001) and attended on average one less antenatal clinic than controls (p < 0.001). Chinese women were also less likely to deliver by caesarean section (p < 0.05), but more likely to have a perineal tear (p < 0.005). Pre-defined risk, gestation at delivery, birth weight, duration of labour, estimated blood loss and mean 5 min Apgar scores were comparable in both groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there are significant differences in access to healthcare and the method of delivery, but overall, the obstetric outcomes of both ethnic groups are highly similar. This may be due to the ‘healthy immigrant effect’ or the increased use of interpreters and linkworkers in obstetric healthcare.