Associations between non-registered ultrasound examination in pregnancy
and adverse perinatal outcomes in immigrant and non-immigrant women: a
Norwegian population-based study 1999-2016
Abstract
Objectives (i) Estimate the proportion of non-registered
prenatal ultrasound examinations; (ii) Examine associations between
non-registered ultrasound examinations and adverse perinatal outcomes,
by migrant-related factors, in women giving birth in Norway.
Design A national population-based study. Setting and
sample Individually linked data from the Medical Birth Registry of
Norway and Statistics Norway, 1999-2016, comprising 999,760 singleton
pregnancies to immigrants ( n = 196,220) and non-immigrants (
n = 803,540). Methods Crude and adjusted odds ratios
(aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic
regression with robust standard error estimations, adjusted for year of
childbirth, maternal age, parity, maternal smoking during pregnancy,
educational level, and Norwegian health region at birth. Main
outcome measures Prenatal ultrasound examinations; perinatal mortality;
placental abruption; preeclampsia. Results Compared to
non-immigrants, immigrant women had a higher proportion of
non-registered ultrasound examinations (2.3% vs. 4.3% respectively).
Compared to women with ultrasound examination, the aOR for
perinatal mortality for women with non-registered ultrasound was
2.27 [95% CI 1.85, 2.79] for immigrants and 3.61 [3.21, 4.07]
for non-immigrants. Non-registered ultrasound examination was also
associated with placental abruption (aOR 1.32 [1.08, 1.63]) for
non-immigrant women, but not for immigrant women. Non-registered
ultrasound examination was not associated with preeclampsia in either
immigrant or non-immigrant women. Conclusion Compared to
non-immigrants, immigrant women have a higher proportion of
non-registered data on prenatal ultrasound examinations. Both immigrants
and non-immigrants with non-registered ultrasound examinations have an
increased aOR of perinatal mortality, but no association was found for
preeclampsia. Non-immigrant women had an increased aOR for placental
abruption.