Traveller mothers: Obstetric and neonatal outcomes in an Irish maternity unit

Travellers' ethnicity was only formally acknowledged by the Irish State in 2017. They experience persistent racism and discrimination, resulting in poorer outcomes in terms of health, education, employment, and accommodation. Previous studies have reported higher rates of infant mortality and stillbirths among Traveller mothers. This study is a retrospective review examining pregnancy and neonatal outcomes for Traveller mothers compared to the general Irish population.

The hospital database was interrogated for results of singleton pregnancies between January 1 2013 and December 31 2023 inclusively where mothers self-identified as Travellers and variables analyzed.

Traveller women become mothers at a younger age (25 vs. 33 years, P < 0.001) and are more likely to be married (72% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001) with higher median body mass index measurements (26 vs. 24.8, P < 0.001). There are increased rates of prematurity (18.6% vs. 13.3%, P < 0.001) and delivery of a low weight baby (8.4% vs. 5.1%). They are more likely to smoke in pregnancy (45.6% vs. 8.9%, P < 0.001) and be related to the father of the baby (24% vs. 0.88%, P < 0.001). Smoking and drug use were found to be independent risk factors for prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 1.734, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.606-1.872, P < 0.001 and OR 1.710, 95% CI 1.316-2.223, P < 0.001, respectively) but ethnicity was not (OR 1.198, 95% CI 0.989-1.451, P = 0.065).

Being a Traveller itself or consanguinity was not a factor in premature delivery but smoking and drug use in pregnancy was associated with premature delivery. This is an opportunity to offer support to Traveller women and potentially to improve neonatal outcomes.