Pregnancy outcomes of immigrant women living in Korea: A population-based study

PLoS One. 2022 Nov 29;17(11):e0278193. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278193. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Although there is a high rate of pregnant immigrant women in Korea, little is known regarding their pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of immigrant women in Korea. Data for all pregnant women who gave birth between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016 were obtained using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database. Pregnant women were divided into two groups: Korean and immigrant women. The main outcome measures were adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes of mellitus, preeclampsia, cesarean section, placental abrnomalities, and postpartum hemorrhage. The odds of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, cesarean section, placental previa, placental abruptio, and postpartum hemorrhage was compared between the two groups. Among 4,439,778 pregnant women who gave birth during the study period, 168,940 (3.8%) were immigrant women. The odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.28), and cesarean section (adjusted OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.25-1.28)were higher in immigrant women than in Korean women, but the odds of preeclampsia (adjusted OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.81-0.86) and postpartum hemorrhage (adjusted OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.97) was lower in immigrant women than in Korean women. Immigrant women had different pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy and postpartum management that reflects these characteristics will be necessary for immigrant women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section
  • Diabetes, Gestational* / epidemiology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health
  • Placenta
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage* / epidemiology
  • Pre-Eclampsia* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Korean society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Research Fund. (grant no. KSMSM-2017-001) The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.