Delivery and immigration: the experience of a Greek Hospital

In this retrospective study we investigate the differences regarding the mode of delivery between Greek and immigrant women.

We collected data from the Birth Registry of the hospital delivery room for the period from March 1, 2000 to February 29, 2004. We assigned the women into two groups according to their nationality: Greeks and immigrants. We studied the following parameters: age, nationality, parity of women, mode of delivery instrumental delivery (ID), vaginal birth (VD), cesarean section (CS), the indications of CS, and gender and weight of the newborn; 3,071 women met the inclusion criteria.

The average immigrant's age was 2.9 years lower than in the Greek group; 35.2% of the women were Greeks and 64.7% were immigrants. A significant difference was found in the percentage of multipara and the indications for CS--especially prolonged labor (significantly higher in the immigrants), and preeclampsia (significantly higher in the Greeks). There were no significant differences between the two groups referring to the rate of CS, ID or VD, the gender of the newborn, and the birth weight.

We did not find any significant differences between the two groups regarding the rate of caesarean delivery. In exploring health-related differences between population groups, it is important to determine how race/ethnicity contributes to these differences. A statistically significant association between race or ethnicity and an undesirable health outcome does not by itself establish causality. Health outcomes usually have multiple causes that can be either direct or indirect and are often interrelated and interactive. Race/ethnicity and social class influence health through complex pathways.