OBSTETRIC PERFORMANCE IN ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS COMPARED WITH ISRAELI PARTURIENTS

It was the aim of this study to evaluate the obstetric performance of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in comparison to the general Jewish obstet ric population. The study was performed at the Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, which manages the busiest delivery ward in Israel. Between 1988 and 1991 a total of 20,047 non-Ethiopian women (Group N) and 431 parturients of Ethiopian origin (group E) delivered at the Soroka Med ical Center. Group E included a significantly higher percentage of gra ndmultiparous women than group N. Among diseases complicating pregnanc y there was a statistically significant higher incidence of severe pre gnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in group E than in group N. Mild PIH and chronic hypertension were of comparable prevalence in both groups . The prevalence of class A diabetes mellitus was significantly lower in group E than in group N; the same trend was also observed for diabe tes class B but without reaching statistical significance. There was n o significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of polyh ydramnios, post-datism and poor obstetric history, or fetal distress, s/p cesarean section, and prolapse of cord. Statistical analysis indic ated a tendency towards significance for higher prevalence of prematur e rupture of membranes in group N. Malpresentations and malpositions w ere of similar prevalence in both groups. The incidence of premature d elivery in group E showed a higher relative risk, suggesting a tendenc y of significance. The incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in group E was significantly higher than in group N. There was no signif icant difference in the prevalence rates of placental complications su ch as placenta previa and abruption of placenta between the groups. Th e mode of delivery, the prevalence of complications during the third s tage of labor, birthweight of infants and perinatal mortality were sim ilar for both groups. In conclusion, the obstetric performance in Ethi opian Jewish immigrants is surprisingly similar to that of Israeli Jew ish parturients. The only prominent pathology that does not seem to be related to life-style and nutrition is pregnancy-induced hypertension .