(993) Birth Outcomes of Nulliparous Immigrants in the United States

To examine the characteristics and birth outcomes in nulliparous immigrant birthing people who had a birth in the United States after immigrating to the U.S. prior to or during/after adolescence (12 years of age) compared to native-born individuals.

Study Design:

This was an analysis of the NuMoM2b (a prospective multi-center cohort of nulliparous women) dataset. Demographic characteristics, birth outcomes and neonatal outcomes of native-born individuals were compared to birthing people who immigrated to the U.S. before or after 12 years of age. A bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression model were performed.

Results:

Foreign-born birthing people had higher odds of developing gestational diabetes and delivering via cesarean, but lower odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and neonatal complications compared with U.S.-born birthing people (Table 1). More specifically, the groups with the highest odds for being delivered via cesarean were people who immigrated to the U.S from Central America or South America.  Odds of developing gestational diabetes were similar between U.S.-born birthing people and immigrants from Central America or South America. Also, hypertensive disorders were less likely for foreign born birthing people. Of note, birthing people who immigrated to the U.S, from countries other than those in Central or South America had less frequent neonatal complications compared to all groups.

Conclusion:

Birthing people who immigrated to the United States after the age of 12 have differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to those who immigrated prior to age 12 and women born in the United States. Those who immigrated to the U.S prior to age 12 share more similarities in birth outcomes to those born in the U.S. than women who immigrated to the U.S after age 12. This may be due to the unique experience a birthing person may have when arriving to the United States after age 12 versus before this age. There may be overlap between experiences for immigrant birthing people that arrived prior to age 12 and U.S born birthing people.