The correlation between ethnicity and knowledge on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy among Arab and non- Arab women

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) can substantially affect maternal well-being and quality of life. Cultural, social, and healthcare-system factors may influence healthcare-seeking behavior and management strategies. The primary objective of this study was to compare the proportion of Arab and non-Arab women who sought medical consultation for NVP. Secondary objectives were to assess differences in NVP duration and impact on quality of life, explore sources of advice and support, characterize recommendations for NVP management, and investigate reasons for not seeking medical consultation.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the maternity ward of Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center between January and October 2018. Postpartum women who reported NVP during their most recent pregnancy were interviewed using a structured questionnaire available in Hebrew and Arabic. Group comparisons were performed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact, t-tests, or Mann-Whitney U tests, as appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with seeking medical consultation.

A total of 190 women were included (126 non-Arab and 64 Arab). Overall, 92 non-Arab women (73.0%) sought medical consultation for NVP compared with 30 Arab women (46.9%) (p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, non-Arab ethnicity was independently associated with seeking medical consultation (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.06-6.58; p = 0.036). Arab women reported greater NVP-related impairment in quality of life and daily functioning (p = 0.035) and were more likely to rely on family members for advice (45.3% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.022). Dietary modifications were recommended more frequently to Arab women (p = 0.023). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding reasons for not seeking medical consultation.

Significant differences were observed between Arab and non-Arab women in the perception and management of NVP. Arab women reported a greater impact of NVP on quality of life and were less likely to seek medical consultation, whereas non-Arab women more frequently sought professional care. Although ethnicity remained independently associated with healthcare-seeking behavior, the observed differences are likely influenced by a complex interplay of demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, and healthcare-system-related factors. These findings highlight the importance of accessible, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered counseling to support equitable management of NVP.