Disparities in Obstetric and Anaesthetic Care Between Migrant and NativePopulations in High-Income Countries: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.485Keywords:
Antenatal Care, Immigrants, Refugees, Obstetric Anaesthesia, Perinatal HealthAbstract
Objective. This narrative review aimed to investigate the potential differences in antenatal care provision, perinatal outcomes, and administration of obstetric neuraxial analgesia between migrant women and their native counterparts in high-income countries.
Methods. Between March and July 2024, we searched four electronic databases through Ovid and PubMed: Medline, Embase, Global Health, and Maternity and Infant Care. The search terms used included “migrant”, “refugee”, “asylum seeker”, “perinatal”, “antenatal”, “pregnancy”, “neonate”, “obstetric anaesthesia”, “neuraxial analgesia”, and “outcome”. We included peerreviewed articles published in English that presented data on the provision of antenatal and perinatal care, as well as the administration of obstetric neuraxial analgesia to refugee mothers who migrated to high-income countries.
Results. Among the 795 screened records, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, ten focused on obstetric neuraxial analgesia administration, while the remaining studies highlighted the differences in antenatal care and perinatal outcomes.
Conclusion. Access to antenatal care, utilisation of neuraxial analgesia, and perinatal and neonatal outcomes for migrant women differ from those of their native counterparts, reflecting the significant challenges encountered during the perinatal period.
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