Pregnancy Outcomes of Southeast Asian Immigrant Pregnant Women Compared with Thai Pregnant Women in Rajavithi Hospital
Podjanee Phadungkiatwattana MD*, Jittima Rujiwetpongstorn MD*, Thitinan Tansathit MD*, Nattinee Srisantiroj MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the pregnancy outcomes of Southeast Asian immigrant women compared to native Thai women in
Rajavithi Hospital.
Material and Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on singleton Southeast Asian immigrant pregnant women
in Thailand between January 2007 and December 2008.
Results : One thousand two hundred sixty immigrant pregnant women and 5,040 controls were included. After adjusting the
odds ratio, the cesarean section rate, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit admission of
immigrant women are not different from native-born women. The incidence of low Apgar score at 5 minutes and perinatal
death were significantly lower in the study group with an odds ratio of 0.506 (95% CI 0.29-0.89) and 0.295 (95% CI
0.10-0.83), respectively. Low birth weight was higher in the study group with an odds ratio of 1.707 (95% CI 1.45-2.01).
Conclusion : In Thailand, the cesarean section rate, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit
admission of immigrant women are not different from native-born women. Foreign-born status confers a protective effect for
low Apgar score at 5 minutes and perinatal death. However, the incidence of low birth weight in foreign-born women is higher
than native-born women.
Keywords : Pregnancy, Outcomes, Immigrants, Thai, Southeast Asian
