Table 1.
Description of included studies
| Reference (language of publication) | Method (geographical coverage, data source, data yr) | Receiving country | Population | Findings Migrants vs. Non-migrants*(Overallcaesarean rates)(Emergency&/orElective caesarean rates) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alonso CP, Maresca MI, Oritz TA, & Serrano MM. (2006) (Spanish) |
Local, hospital records, 2000-2002 |
Spain (Madrid) |
2759 African, American, European, & Oriental "immigrants" vs. 3990 Spanish women. |
L & ND overall (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Aurelius G, & Ryde-Blomqvist E. (1978) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1968-1969 |
Sweden (Stockholm) |
1235 “Immigrants” from Scandinavia, West, South, & East Europe, & “other countries” vs. 412 Swedish women. Only singleton births included. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Barron SL, & Vessey MP. (1966) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1958-1960 |
UK (South London) |
1563 West Indian & Irish “immigrants” vs. 3891 British women. Only singleton births. |
H overall (not statistically tested; W Indian: primips H, multips ND; Irish: primips ND, multips H) |
Fair |
| Berger C, Liska G, Gallier J, & Soutoul JH. (1973) (French) |
Local, hospital records, 1970-1972 |
France (Tours) |
800 Portuguese/Spanish, North African, Yugoslavia, “other” “migrants” vs. 2655 French women. |
M overall (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Berger C, Laugier J, & Soutoul JH. (1974) (French) | |||||
| Bona G, Zaffaroni M, Cataldo F, Sandri F, & Salvioli GP. (2001) (English) |
National, population-based hospital data, 1996-1997 |
Italy |
3347 “Legal immigrants from developing countries” (Latin America, North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Middle East, Indian Sub-continent, Far East, Oceania, Eastern Europe, & Gipsies) vs. 6694 Italians. |
ND overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted; Variation by groups but not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Braveman P, Egerter S, Edmonston F, & Verdon M. (1995) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1991 |
US (California) |
81,445 Asian and Latina “foreign born” vs. 93,685 “Whites”. Only singleton primiparous women. |
L & ND overall (adjusted) |
Good |
| Cassell E. (1995) (English) Thesis |
Regional, population-based registry, 1982-1992 |
Australia (Victoria) |
5268 Filipino-born vs. 507,457 Australian-born. |
H overall (stratified by parity and age caesarean rates consistently H) H emerg (unadjusted) H elect (unadjusted) |
Good |
| Chan A, Roder D, & Macharper T. (1988) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1981-1983 |
Australia (South Australia) |
5675 “Non-English speaking countries” (includes Italy, Holland, Germany, Vietnam, Greece, Yugoslavia, Philippines, & “other”) vs. 2894 Australian-born. |
H overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted; Variation by groups but not statistically tested) H emerg (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) H elect (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Comas M, Català L, Sala M, et al. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2006-2007 |
Spain (Barcelona) |
564 Foreign-born (includes women from South America, Asia and North Africa- Morocco, Pakistan and Ecuador most represented) vs. 462 Spanish-born women. Only women who lived in hospital catchment area were included. |
ND overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Delvaux T, Buekens P, Thoumsin H, Dramaix M, & Collette J. (2003) (English) |
Local, research study, 1997-1998 |
Belgium (Liege) |
89 North-African nationality vs. 184 Belgian nationality women. Singleton live births, excluded women with gestational diabetes & malformed babies at birth. |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Diani F, Zanconato G, Foschi F, Turinetto A, & Franchi M. (2003) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1992-2001 |
Italy (Verona) |
1014 “Non-EU women” (including Central Africa, Northern Africa/Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, & Latin America) vs. 12,931 Italians. |
H overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Fedeli U, Alba N, Lisiero M, Zambon F, Avossa F, & Spolaore P. (2010) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 2006-2007 |
Italy (Veneto region) |
20,332 Regular and Irregular foreign born/migrants vs. 73,098 Italian women. |
L overall (unadjusted; when stratified by age for regular migrants ND across strata except ages 30-34 years H) |
Fair |
| Forna F, Jamieson DJ, Sanders D, & Lindsay MK. (2003) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1991-2001 |
US (Atlanta) |
13,465 Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Central & South America, Middle East & “other” foreign-born vs. 36,439 US born (mostly Black women). Excluded women with no prenatal care. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Gagnon AJ, Dougherty G, Platt RW, et al. (2007) (English) and Gagnon AJ, Van Hulst A, Merry L, et al. (2012) (English) Unpublished when review of literature was conducted, 2007 reference describes original study; 2012 reference is publication of caesarean results (after review of literature was completed) |
Local, research study, 2003-2004 |
Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) |
1018 “Recently arrived migrants (≤ 5 years)” and defined by UN Macro Region (Europe, Latin America, Africa, West Asia/North Africa, & South-Central Asia), migration status (refugee, asylum seeker, non-refugee immigrant) and length of time (≤ 2 years vs. > 2 years) vs. 2482 Canadian-born. Only low-risk (≤ 35 years, gestational age ≤ 42 weeks) primiparous women. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted but restricted to low-risk population) ND emerg (unadjusted but restricted to low-risk population) ND elect (not statistically tested) |
Good |
| Gagnon AJ, Wahoush O, Dougherty G, et al. (2006) (English) Unpublished, 2006 reference describes study |
Local, research study, 2006-2009 |
Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) |
1025 “Recently arrived migrants” (≤ 5 years) defined by migration status: refugee, asylum seeker, non-refugee immigrant vs. 514 Canadian-born. |
ND overall (unadjusted) ND emerg (unadjusted) ND elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Gann P, Nghiem L, & Warner S. (1989) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1981-1987 |
US (Lowell) |
310 Cambodian refugees vs. 110 low income Whites. Only singleton births included. Primary caesareans only. |
L overall (unadjusted; ND primips, L multips) |
Fair |
| Gayral-Taminh M, Arnaud C, Parant O, Fournie A, Reme JM, & Grandjean H. (1999) (French) |
Local, hospital records, 1988-1994 (excl 1990) |
France (Toulouse) |
2636 “Black Africa” & Maghreb vs. 3172 French women. Only singleton births included. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted; results consistent when stratified by parity) ND during labour caesarean (unadjusted) ND pre-labour caesarean (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Giani U, Bruzzese D, Pugliese A, Saporito M, & Triassi M. (2011) (Italian, used English abstract) |
Regional, population-based registry, 2005 |
Italy (Campania) |
1709 Foreign-born women vs. 28,557 Italian women. Excluded repeat caesareans. |
L elect (adjusted) |
Good |
| Harlap S, Kaufman R, Prywes R, Davies AM, Sterk VV, & Weiskopf P. (1971) (English) |
Local, research study, 1964-1967 |
Israel (West Jerusalem) |
13,112 Asian, North African, & Western countries (based on birth place) vs. 7635 Israeli women. Only singleton births. |
H overall (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Hazekamp JT. (1982) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1978 |
Norway (Oslo) |
51 Wives of Pakistani migrant workers vs. 51 Norwegian women matched for age and parity. |
ND overall (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Helsel D, Petitti DB, & Kunstadter P. (1992) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1985-1988 |
US (Merced & San Joaquin counties, California) |
1937 Hmong refugees vs. 3776 non-Hispanic Whites. Mixed marriages excluded. Only singleton births included. |
L overall (results consistent across different age and parity strata) |
Good |
| Henry OA, Guaran RL, Petterson CD, & Walstab JE. (1992) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1979-1988 |
Australia (Melbourne) |
1123 Vietnamese (likely refugees) vs. 35,373 Australian born women. |
ND overall (adjusted) |
Good |
| Holan S, Vangen S, Hanssen K, & Stray-Pedersen B. (2008) (Norwegian) |
Local, research study, 1993-1998 |
Norway (Oslo) |
220 Asian/African women combined (including women from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Morocco, & Somalia) immigrants with diabetes vs. 262 Norwegian women with diabetes. Only singleton births included. |
L overall (unclear if statistically significant; results similar when just primips) ND emerg (not statistically tested) ND elect (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Howell R. (1989) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1980-1984 |
Australia (Brisbane) |
338 Vietnamese refugees and Filipino women (most married to Caucasian men) vs. 14,790 Australian-born women. |
ND overall (unadjusted; ND for primips, L & ND for multips) H emerg (not statistically tested), H (primips) & ND (multips) emerg (unadjusted) L & ND elect (unadjusted but consistent results by parity) |
Fair |
| Ismail KI, Marchocki Z, Brennan DJ, & O’Donoghue K. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2009 |
Ireland (Cork) |
867 Eastern European women (refers to women from Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, & Ukraine); nationality used to categorize; most would be economic migrants. Multiple, breech and elective or pre-labour caesareans were excluded vs. 5550 Irish women. |
ND caesareans during labour (unadjusted) L (primips, unadjusted but results consistent when stratified by age) & ND (multips, unadjusted) caesareans during labour |
Good |
| Ismail KI, Marchocki Z, Brennan DJ, & O’Donoghue K. (2010) (English) Conference abstract | |||||
| Janevic T.(2011)† (English) Conference abstract |
Local, population-based registry, 1995-2003 |
US (New York) |
511,564 “Foreign-born and ethnicity/region of origin” : North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa unspecified, Non-Hispanic Caribbean, Hispanic Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Central America, East Asia, South East Asia/Pacific Islands, & South Central Asian vs. 449,817 US born women. Singleton births only. |
M overall (adjusted) |
Good |
| Johnson EB, Reed SD, Hitti J, & Batra M. (2005) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1993-2001 |
US (Washington) |
579 Somali immigrants vs. 4837 US-born Whites & Blacks. Only singleton births. |
H (compared to US Whites) & ND (compared to US Blacks) (not statistically tested) H (primips) & ND (multips) overall; (adjusted) |
Good |
| Kaminski M. (1975) (French) |
Local, research study, 1963-1969 |
France (Paris) |
1795 Migrants from North Africa, South Europe & the Antilles (only women whose husbands were also born outside of France were considered migrants) vs. 5774 French women. |
H& ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Kingston D, Heaman M, Chalmers B, Kaczorowski J, et al. (2011) † (English) |
National, Population-based survey, 2006 |
Canada |
16,040 “Landed immigrants” (residents) (including North America, Central America, Caribbean/Bermuda, South America, West Europe, East Europe, North Europe, South/unspecified Europe, East Africa, North Africa, West/Central Asia/Middle East/Kurdistan, East Asia, South East Asia/Asia/East Timor, South Asia/Asia non-specified) defined as recent (≤ 5 years) and non-recent arrival (> 5 years) vs. 57,800 Canadian-born. Only singleton births. Weighted numbers. |
ND overall (all countries combined & stratified by time since arrival; adjusted; Variation by country but not statistically tested) |
Good |
| Lansakara N, Brown SJ, & Gartland D. (2010) (English) |
Local, research study, 2003-2005 |
Australia (Melbourne) |
212 Mothers born overseas of non-English speaking background- needed to be fluent in English to participate; included women from 53 different countries, largest group were from South Asia, Sri Lanka and India vs. 1074 Australian-born mothers. Primiparous women only. |
ND overall (all countries combined; unadjusted) ND emerg (all countries combined; unadjusted) ND elect (all countries combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| LeRay C, Carayol M, Zeitlin J, Breart G, & Goffinet F. (2006) (English) |
National, research study, 2001-2002 |
France |
618 “Origin abroad” (including North Africa, North European, South European, African & Asian) vs. 2797 French. Only low risk primiparous, singleton, cephalic presentation, no induction, Birthweight 2500-4500 g babies, included. |
H caesarean during labour (all migrants combined; adjusted; Variation by groups but not statistically tested) |
Good |
| Loew D, & Schrank P. (1966) (German) |
Local, hospital records, 1956-1965 |
Germany (Russelheim) |
398 “Foreigners” (including Southern Europe, East Europe & “other”) vs. 6602 German women. |
H overall (all foreigners combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Ma J, & Bauman A. (1996) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1990-1992 |
Australia (New South Wales) |
64,922 Immigrant women from Europe, Asia, Africa, New Zealand/Oceania, Middle East, America vs. Australian (non-Aboriginal). |
M overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Malin M, & Gissler M. (2009) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1999-2001 |
Finland |
6532 Migrants from Latin American/Caribbean, Somali, African, Vietnamese, South East Asian, Iran/Afghan/Iraq, Chinese, South Asian, Middle East, Baltic, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, & Nordic (only those with resident status) vs. 158,469 Finnish women. Only singleton births. |
M overall (unadjusted but results presented by parity) |
Fair |
| Maslovitz S, Kupferminc MJ, Lessing JB, & Many A. (2005) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2001-2002 |
Israel (Tel Aviv) |
721 Non-resident foreign labourers [mostly Eastern Europe, also included women from Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana) and Asia (Thailand, Philippines, China)] vs. 16,012 Israeli residents. |
H overall (all migrants combined; unadjusted) H emerg (all migrants combined; unadjusted) L elect (all migrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Merten S, Wyss C, & Ackermann-Liebrich U. (2007) (English) |
National, population-based hospital data, 2000-2002 |
Switzerland |
24,284 Migrants based on nationalities from various regions &/or countries of birth: Africa, Latin America, Asia, Balkan/Turkey, EU/USA; Angola, DR Congo, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, UK, & USA vs. 7500 Swiss women. |
M overall (adjusted) |
Good |
| Moscioni P, Romagnoli C, Pomili G, & Gilardi G. (1995) (Italian) |
Local, hospital records, 1992-1994 |
Italy (Perugia) |
186 “Immigrant/foreign women” vs. 1716 Italian women. |
L overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Mossialos E, Allin S, Karras K, & Davaki K. (2005) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2002 |
Greece (Athens) |
181 “Immigrants” (majority from Albania, also included other Balkan countries and India/Philippines/Pakistan) vs. 259 Greek women. Only singleton births. |
L overall (all immigrants combined; adjusted) |
Good |
| Oliva GC, Zannella MP, Filidi C, Cavaliere AF, Casarella L, & Mancuso S. (2007) (Italian) |
Local, hospital records, 2000-2004 |
Italy (Rome) |
2628 “Foreign women based on nationality” vs. 11,976 Italian women. |
L overall (unadjusted) H during labour caesarean (unadjusted) L pre-labour caesarean (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Panagopoulos P, Tsoukalos G, Economou A, et al. (2005) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2000-2004 |
Greece (Piraeus) |
1990 “Immigrants” (according to nationality) vs. 1081 Greek women. |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Parsons L, Macfarlane AJ, & Golding J. (1993) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1982-1985 |
UK |
Mediterranean, African (excluding East Africa), Bangladeshi, & Pakistani vs. UK women. |
M overall (+ variation by parity; unclear if statistically significant) |
Fair |
| Press F, Katz M, Leiberman JR, Shoham I, & Glezerman M. (1993) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1988-1991 |
Israel (Be’er Sheva) |
431 Ethiopian Jewish immigrants vs. 20,047 Israeli Jewish women. |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Richman D, & Dixon S. (1985) (English) |
Local, research study, 1980-1981 |
US (San Diego) |
50 Hmong and Cambodian refugees vs. 25 Caucasian (non-Spanish, non-Oriental surnames). |
L overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Rio I, Castelló A, Barona C, et al. (2010) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 2005-2006 |
Spain (Catalonia & Valencia) |
34,746 Latin America, Eastern Europe, & Maghreb vs. 180,633 Spanish women. Only singleton births. |
M overall (adjusted for age but not parity) |
Fair |
| Rizzo N, Ciardelli V, Gandolfi-Colleoni G, et al. (2004) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1997-2001 |
Italy (Bologna) |
510 Immigrant women from non-EU countries vs. 510 Western world (Italy, other EU, Australia, Canada, US). Only singleton births. |
ND overall (unadjusted) ND emerg (unadjusted) L elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Roman H, Blondel B, Bréart G, & Goffinet F. (2008) (English) |
National, population-based survey, 2003 |
France |
585 Africa (excluding North Africa), North Africa, Europe, & “other” nationalities vs. 4658 French women. Only included low risk, singleton births, with no previous caesarean or medical indications for caesarean. |
H & ND overall (not statistically tested) H & ND caesareans during labour (adjusted) H & ND caesareans pre-labour (adjusted) |
Good |
| Rudman A, El-Khouri B, & Waldenström U. (2008) † (English) |
National, population-based survey, 2000 |
Sweden |
236 Swedish-speaking Foreign-born vs. 2472 Swedish women. |
ND overall (unadjusted) ND emerg (unadjusted) ND elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Rumbaut RG. (1996) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1989-1991 |
US (San Diego) |
1211 “Foreign-born & ethnicity”: defined as White, Asian, Hispanic, & Black; Europe/Canada, Middle East, Indo-Chinese, East Asian, Mexican, Central America & Sub-Saharan Africa vs. 253 US born. |
L & ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Saurel-Cubizolles M-J, Saucedo M, Drewniak N, Blondel B, & Bouvier-Colle M-H. (2012) (French) |
National, Population-based survey, 2010 |
France |
1864 Foreign-born (based on nationality) who could complete the survey in French: European (including Turkey), North-African, Sub-Saharan African, & other; 13% arrived in 2009/2010 and 36% between 2005-2008. vs. 12,125 French women. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted) H & ND caesarean during labour (unadjusted) H & ND caesarean pre- labour (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Saurwein A. (1969) (German) |
Local, hospital records, 1964-1968 |
Germany (Cologne) |
297 “Foreigners” from Southern Europe (including Turks, Greeks, Italian, & Spanish women) vs. 7465 German women. |
H overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Schliemann F, & Schliemann G. (1975) (German) |
Local, population-based registry, 1969-1973 |
Germany (Hamburg) |
1217 “Foreigners/Guest workers” from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey & “others” vs. 5112 German women. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Schultze-Naumburg R, & Scholtes G. (1976) (German, used English abstract) |
Local, hospital records, 1968-1973 |
Germany (Berlin) |
1941 “Foreign women” vs. 9009 German women. |
L overall (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Shah D, Tay A, Desai A, Parikh M, Nauta M, & Yoong W. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2006-2008 |
UK (North London) |
125 First generation Chinese immigrant women (born in China). Economic migrants most likely and mean length of time in UK =3.2 years. vs. 125 British Caucasian women matched for age and parity. |
L overall (unadjusted but matched by age and parity) |
Good |
| Shah RR, Ray JG, Taback N, Meffe F, & Glazier R. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2002-2006 |
Canada (Toronto) |
3672 "Foreign born" based on country and region of birth using World Bank classification: Latin America/Caribbean, Western Europe/USA/Japan/Australia/New Zealand, Eastern Europe/Central Asia, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia/Pacific. Asylum seekers examined based on health insurance. < 5years & ≥ 5years also examined. Women with multiple gestation removed. vs. 1435 Canadian-born. |
H & ND overall (adjusted) |
Good |
| Shah RR. (2007) (English) Thesis | |||||
| Sletten K. (2011) (English) Thesis unpublished |
Local, hospital records, 2009-2010 |
Norway (Baerum) |
803 Immigrants from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, & Western Europe vs. 1634 Norwegian women. Low risk women (35 weeks or greater gestational age, no diabetes, singleton births) only. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted) H & ND emerg (adjusted) L & ND elect (adjusted) |
Good |
| Small R, & Lumley J. (2007) † (English) Conference abstract |
Regional, population-based registry, 1999-2007 |
Australia (Victoria) |
70,417 Women from Non-English-speaking countries (only countries w >1000 births were included): Vietnam, China, Former Yugoslavia, Philippines, Lebanon, India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iraq, Cambodia, Indonesia, Greece, Germany, Poland and Italy vs. 444,175 Australian-born. |
M overall (+ variation by parity; not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Small R, Gagnon A, Gissler M, et al. (2008) (English) |
Regional & National, population-based registries, 1997-2004 |
Australia (New South Wales, Victoria), Belgium (Flanders, Brussels), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Finland, Norway, Sweden |
10,431Somali women vs. 2, 168, 891 receiving-country-born women. |
H overall [Belgium- Flanders (primips & multips) & Belgium -Brussels]; H (primips) & ND (multips) overall (Australia- Victoria, Finland, Norway, & Sweden); ND overall [Australia -New South Wales (primips & multips) & Canada] (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Stray-Pedersen B, & Austveg B. (1996) (Norwegian) |
Local, hospital records, 1993 |
Norway (Oslo) |
734 "Immigrants" (including Asia/Africa/South America/East Europe and Turkey) vs. 3188 Norwegians. |
H overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Teixeira C, Correia S, & Barros H. (2010) (English) Conference abstract |
Geographical coverage not indicated, research study, years not indicated |
Portugal |
743 European/North American, African, & South American (based on country of birth) vs. 6692 Portuguese-born. Singleton births only. |
H & ND overall (adjusted but variables included not indicated) |
Fair |
| Triantafyllidis G, Tziouva K, Papastefanou I, Samolis S, Katsetos C, & Panagopoulos P. (2010) (English) Conference abstract |
Local, hospital records, 2007 |
Greece (Pireaus) |
657 "Immigrants" (based on nationality) (mostly Albanians) vs. 304 Greek women. Only term deliveries (gestational age 37-40 weeks). |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Van Enk A, Doornbos HP, & Nordbeck HJ. (1990) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1972-1982 |
Holland (Amsterdam) |
1614 Non-European immigrants defined by ethnic origin: "Blacks" (Surinam & Dutch Antilles), Mediterranean (Turks & Moroccans), Asians [West Indian Asians (Hindustani from Surinam), Chinese & some Indonesians] vs. 6234 Dutch Caucasian. |
H & ND overall (unadjusted; results consistent when stratified by parity) |
Fair |
| Van Enk WJ, Gorissen WH, & Van Enk A. (2000) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1990-1993 |
Holland |
5841Migrant teenagers (15-19 years old) defined by ethnic and geographical background: Mediterranean [Turkish & North African (mainly Moroccan)], Black (Surinam & Dutch Antilles), Hindustani (West Indian-Asian from Surinam & Dutch Antilles), Asian (Chinese, Malaysian & Malaccan); non-Dutch European (West & East Europe & American), & "others" (mixed, unknown or other ethnicity) vs. 45,570 Dutch (born in Netherlands and West European origin, includes teenagers and 20-24 yr olds). Singleton, primiparous pregnancies. |
M overall (when compared to Dutch teens); L & ND overall (when compared to 20-24 yr old Dutch); (unadjusted but restricted to primips and defined age groups) |
Fair |
| Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, & Schei B. (1996) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1992 |
Norway (Oslo) |
67 Pakistani vs. 70 Norwegian women. |
ND overall (unadjusted) ND emerg (unadjusted) ND elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Skrondal A, Magnus P, & Stray-Pedersen B. (2000) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1986-1995 |
Norway |
17,891 Immigrants from Turkey/Morocco, Pakistan, Sri Lanka/India, Vietnam, Philippines, Somalia/Eritrea/Ethiopia, Chile/Brazil vs. 535,600 Norwegians |
M overall (adjusted) H & ND emerg (not statistically tested) M elect (not statistically tested) |
Good |
| Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Johansen RE, Sundby J, & Stray-Pedersen B. (2002) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1986-1998 |
Norway |
1733 Somali vs. 702,192 Norwegians. |
H overall (adjusted) H emerg (adjusted) L elect (not statistically tested) |
Good |
| Vangen S, Stray-Pedersen B, Skrondal A, Magnus P, & Stoltenberg C. (2003) (English) |
National, population-based registry,1986-1998 |
Norway |
2408 Filipino mother/Filipino father and mixed= Filipino mother/Norwegian father vs. 615,063 Norwegian women. |
H overall (adjusted) H emerg (not statistically tested) H & ND elect (adjusted) |
Good |
| Vangen S, Stoltenberg C, Holan S, et al. (2003) (English) |
National, population-based registry, 1988-1998 |
Norway |
10,908 "Immigrants" (some had Norwegian citizenship): included countries in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), South Asia (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India/Bangladesh) vs. 601,785 Norwegian women. Women with and without diabetes included. |
ND overall (all immigrants combined; not statistically tested) ND emerg (all immigrants combined; not statistically tested) ND elect (all immigrants combined; not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Versi E, Liu KL, Chia P, & Seddon G. (1995) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1987-1991 |
UK (East London) |
6460 Bangladeshi vs. 7592 low-income Caucasian women. |
ND overall (unadjusted; results consistent when stratified by parity) ND emerg (not statistically tested) H (multips) & ND (primips) emerg (unadjusted) L (primips & multips) elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Von Katterfeld B, Li J, McNamara B, & Langridge AT. (2011) (English) |
Regional, population-based registry, 1998-2006 |
Australia (West Australia) |
59,245 Foreign-born women as per mother's country of birth as declared in the birth register, ten regional categories as per Standard Australia Classification of countries: Oceania, North/West Europe, South/East Europe, North Africa/Middle East, Sub Saharan Africa, South East Asia, North East Asia, South/Central Asia, Americas vs. 149,737Australian-born (non-indigenous). |
M overall (not statistically tested) H & ND emerg (unadjusted) M elect (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Walsh J, Robson M, & Foley M. (2009) (English) Conference abstract |
Local, hospital records, 2008 |
Ireland (Dublin) |
931 Eastern Europe, Africa, Britain, India, China vs. 2499 Irish women. Only primiparous women, and delivered singleton, term infants. |
M caesarean during labour (unclear if statistically significant) |
Fair |
| Walsh J, Mahony R, Armstrong F, Ryan G, O’Herlihy C, & Foley M. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2008 |
Ireland (Dublin) |
552 Eastern European vs. 2449 Irish women. Primiparous, singleton, term deliveries for women who laboured. |
ND caesarean during labourb (adjusted) ND caesarean pre-labour (excluded group from study) |
Good |
| Ryan G, Armstrong F, Walsh J & Foley M. (2010) (English) Conference abstract | |||||
| Walsh J, Mahony R, McAuliffe F, O'Herlihy C, Robson M, & Foley M. (2009) (English) Conference abstract | |||||
| Yoong W, Wagley A, Fong C, Chukwuma C, & Nauta M. (2004) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2002 |
UK (North London) |
61 Kosovo-Albanian vs. 61 British Caucasian. |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Yoong W, Kolhe S, Karoshi M, Ullah M, & Nauta M. (2005) (English) |
Local, research study, 2002 |
UK (North London) |
69 Somali vs. 69 British Caucasian. |
ND overall (unadjusted) |
Fair |
| Zanconato G, Lacovella C, Parazzini F, Bergamini V, & Franchi M. (2011) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 2005-2009 |
Italy (Verona) |
2661 “Immigrants" defined as 5 ethnic minority groups based on geographical location: Sub-Saharan Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & North Africa, Central and South America, South and East Asia vs. 6365 Italian women; singleton births only. |
M overall (adjusted for age but not parity) H & ND caesarean during labour (adjusted for age but not parity) M caesarean pre-labour (not statistically tested) |
Fair |
| Zlot AI, Jackson DJ, & Korenbrot C. (2005) (English) |
Local, hospital records, 1994-1998 |
US (San Diego) |
1789 Mexican-born (categorized into acculturation groups by language ability- English, Spanish and bilingual) vs. 313 US born Latina women. Only includes low-risk, low income women. |
H & ND (primips) & L & ND (multips) overall; (adjusted) |
Good |
| Zuppa AA, Orchi C, Calabrese V, et al. (2010) (English) | Local, research study, 2005 | Italy (Rome) | 585 “Immigrants” (includes women from Latin America, East Europe, West Europe, Russia, North America, Asia, Africa) vs. 2334 Italian-born. | L overall (all immigrants combined; unadjusted) | Fair |
* For “overall”, “emerg” and “elect” caesarean rates for different migrant groups (defined by country/region of birth, migration status, ethnicity, length of time in new country &/or language ability) compared to non-migrants: H= Higher rate(s); L= Lower rate(s); ND = No Different rate(s); M= Mixed (Higher & Lower rates or Higher, Lower & No Different rates); ‘adjusted’ if at minimum controlled for parity and age. Presented by parity (primiparous = primips; multiparous= multips) &/or age if ‘unadjusted’ and reported.
† Additional data provided.