Obstetric performance in Ethiopian immigrants compared with Israeli parturients

It was the aim of this study to evaluate the obstetric performance of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in comparison to the general Jewish obstetric population. The study was performed at the Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, which manages the busiest delivery ward in Israel. Between 1988 and 1991 a total of 20,047 non-Ethiopian women (Group N) and 431 parturients of Ethiopian origin (group E) delivered at the Soroka Medical Center. Group E included a significantly higher percentage of grandmultiparous women than group N. Among diseases complicating pregnancy there was a statistically significant higher incidence of severe pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in group E than in group N. Mild PIH and chronic hypertension were of comparable prevalence in both groups. The prevalence of class A diabetes mellitus was significantly lower in group E than in group N; the same trend was also observed for diabetes class B but without reaching statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of polyhydramnios, postdatism and poor obstetric history, or fetal distress, s/p cesarean section, and prolapse of cord. Statistical analysis indicated a tendency towards significance for higher prevalence of premature rupture of membranes in group N. Malpresentations and malpositions were of similar prevalence in both groups. The incidence of premature delivery in group E showed a higher relative risk, suggesting a tendency of significance. The incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in group E was significantly higher than in group N. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rates of placental complications such as placenta previa and abruption of placenta between the groups. The mode of delivery, the prevalence of complications during the third stage of labor, birthweight of infants and perinatal mortality were similar for both groups. In conclusion, the obstetric performance in Ethiopian Jewish immigrants is surprisingly similar to that of Israeli Jewish parturients. The only prominent pathology that does not seem to be related to life-style and nutrition is pregnancy-induced hypertension.