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

摘要

ObjectivesDespite 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.MethodsThe nationwide French ELFE (Etude Longitudinale Francaise 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.ResultsWomen 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, immigrantsbut not descendants of immigrantshad lower levels of tobacco smoking, while descendants of immigrants were less likely to drink alcohol during pregnancy.ConclusionsPregnant women of migrant origin have particular health needs and should benefit from a medical follow-up which addresses those needs.