F. Press et al., OBSTETRIC PERFORMANCE IN ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS COMPARED WITH ISRAELI PARTURIENTS, Israel journal of medical sciences, 29(6-7), 1993, pp. 403-407
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
.