TY - JOUR

T1 - Knowledge About How to Manage Warning Signs of Pregnancy Complications Among Immigrants and Their Descendants Compared to Women of Danish Origin

AU - Petersen, Clara Christine Mosborg

AU - Bilbo, Rebecca Elisabeth Qwist

AU - Rasmussen, Trine Damsted

AU - Ekstrom, Claus Thorn

AU - Villadsen, Sarah Fredsted

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - ObjectivesEthnic differences in perinatal morbidity and mortality are starting points for social inequality in health. Increased incidence and severity of some pregnancy complications are found among immigrant women compared to ethnic majority women in high-income settings. However, little is known about immigrant women’s assessment and management of warning signs. We aimed to assess women's knowledge about how to manage warning signs of pregnancy complications among immigrants and their descendants compared to women of Danish origin.MethodsA cross-sectional study including phone-based interviews with 1899 women. Women were interviewed during gestational week 30–37 in one of six languages. Maternal ethnicity was categorized as; immigrants, their descendants and ethnic Danes. The outcomes were yes or no to; do you know what to do if you experience 1) sudden swelling, redness, and heat in one leg 2) severe headache and 3) vaginal bleeding.ResultsImmigrant women had lower levels of knowledge about how to manage all three types of warning signs of pregnancy complications compared to women of Danish origin. Adjusted OR for vaginal bleeding for women of European (4.33, 95% CI: 2.24–8.37), Asian (9.26, 95% CI: 5.10–16.83) and African (8.66, 95% CI: 3.26–23.05) origin.Conclusions for PracticeImmigrant women had lower levels of knowledge about how to manage warning signs of pregnancy complications compared to women of Danish origin. Improved needs-based health education in pregnancy complications and body symptoms during antenatal care is needed to address delays in the management of complications and could potentially improve the health of women and children.

AB - ObjectivesEthnic differences in perinatal morbidity and mortality are starting points for social inequality in health. Increased incidence and severity of some pregnancy complications are found among immigrant women compared to ethnic majority women in high-income settings. However, little is known about immigrant women’s assessment and management of warning signs. We aimed to assess women's knowledge about how to manage warning signs of pregnancy complications among immigrants and their descendants compared to women of Danish origin.MethodsA cross-sectional study including phone-based interviews with 1899 women. Women were interviewed during gestational week 30–37 in one of six languages. Maternal ethnicity was categorized as; immigrants, their descendants and ethnic Danes. The outcomes were yes or no to; do you know what to do if you experience 1) sudden swelling, redness, and heat in one leg 2) severe headache and 3) vaginal bleeding.ResultsImmigrant women had lower levels of knowledge about how to manage all three types of warning signs of pregnancy complications compared to women of Danish origin. Adjusted OR for vaginal bleeding for women of European (4.33, 95% CI: 2.24–8.37), Asian (9.26, 95% CI: 5.10–16.83) and African (8.66, 95% CI: 3.26–23.05) origin.Conclusions for PracticeImmigrant women had lower levels of knowledge about how to manage warning signs of pregnancy complications compared to women of Danish origin. Improved needs-based health education in pregnancy complications and body symptoms during antenatal care is needed to address delays in the management of complications and could potentially improve the health of women and children.

KW - Pregnancy complications

KW - Immigration

KW - Ethnic groups

KW - Antenatal care

KW - Health education

U2 - 10.1007/s10995-021-03298-x

DO - 10.1007/s10995-021-03298-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35000071

VL - 26

SP - 1367

EP - 1374

JO - Maternal and Child Health Journal

JF - Maternal and Child Health Journal

SN - 1092-7875

ER -