Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 62. No. 2, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2023.62.02.10
Understanding Demographic and Epidemiologic Characteristics of Hospitalized Immigrant Female Patients: a Retrospective Observational Study
Igor Karnjuš
; University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
*
Sabina Ličen
; University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Mirko Prosen
; University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Precise epidemiologic and demographic characteristics of immigrant women admitted
to gynecology or obstetrics departments are rarely explored. The aim of this retrospective observational
study was to analyze the epidemiologic and demographic characteristics of immigrant female
patients hospitalized between 2012 and 2017 in one maternity hospital in south-west Slovenia. Clinical
data retrieved from hospital electronic information system were used to analyze these characteristics. In
the mentioned period, 605 immigrant women were hospitalized, most of them originating from countries
of the former Yugoslavia (60.50%) or former Eastern Bloc (14.05%). The results show that in recent
years there has been a constantly growing trend of immigrant women being admitted compared to the
total number of hospitalizations. No statistical differences were established in the incidence of abortion,
preterm delivery or vacuum extraction between Slovenian and immigrant women, although the analysis
revealed a higher rate of cesarean section among immigrant women (χ2=26.960, p<0.01). Education level
seems to be a significant predictor of the likelihood of an abortion in the group of immigrant women
(B=-0.492, p=0.015), where less educated women are at a greater risk. To improve what is known about
the sexual and reproductive health-related problems of immigrant women, a large-scale epidemiologic
study is needed in the near future.
Keywords
Immigrant women; Sexual and reproductive health; Slovenia; Health disparities
Hrčak ID:
308650
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2023.
Visits: 807 *