The perinatal health of immigrant women in France: a nationally representative study

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the healthy migrant effect, immigrants and descendants of immigrants face health challenges and socio-economic difficulties. The objective of this study is to examine the perinatal health of women of migrant origin.

Methods: The nationwide French ELFE (Etude Longitudinale Française Depuis l'Enfance) birth cohort study recruited approximately 18,000 women. We studied pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as tobacco, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy according to migrant status and region of origin.

Results: Women from North Africa and Turkey had a higher risk of pre-pregnancy overweight and GDM, while women from Eastern Europe and Asia had a lower risk of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, but a higher risk of GDM compared to non-immigrants. Women from Sub-Saharan Africa had a higher risk of being overweight or obese pre-pregnancy. Compared to non-immigrants, immigrants-but not descendants of immigrants-had lower levels of tobacco smoking, while descendants of immigrants were less likely to drink alcohol during pregnancy.

Conclusions: Pregnant women of migrant origin have particular health needs and should benefit from a medical follow-up which addresses those needs.

Keywords: Alcohol; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Maternal health; Migrant; Obesity; Overweight; Pregnancy; Smoking; Women.