The aim of the study was to investigate whether the maternal country of origin affected
the risk for perinatal mortality and to determine its relationship to risk factors.
A study of 15,639 deliveries in Malmö, Sweden. Data regarding demographic factors,
life-style and perinatal risk factors, together with data pertaining to outcome was
obtained from the Malmö database and the Swedish Medical Birth Register.
Perinatal mortality was increased among infants to women of Foreign origin as compared
to those delivered by women of Swedish origin (OR 1.5, CI 1.0-2.2). Even after adjustments
for maternal background and risk factors (diabetes, anemia, pre-eclampsia, placental
abruption and small-for-gestational age), the increased risk of perinatal mortality
among women of Foreign origin remained statistically significant. Women from sub-Saharan
Africa, comprising 7.3% of all immigrants, differed from all other subgroups of women
of foreign origin by having a higher risk of adverse outcome (small-for-gestational
age OR 1.9, CI 1.0-3.6, neonatal distress OR 2.7, CI 5.1-4.8 and perinatal mortality
OR 4.3, CI 2.1-8.6).
Women of foreign origin, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, have a higher risk of
perinatal mortality than native Swedish women. The differences in mortality could
not be explained by risk factors. The results suggest that women and newborns from
sub-Saharan Africa should be given more intense surveillance on all levels of perinatal
care in order to reduce perinatal mortality.