Pregnancy complications in women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish origin and women in the general population in Finland

Abstract

Objective: We compared the prevalence of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders in the most recent pregnancy among women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish origin and women in the general population in Finland. Methods: The study groups were selected from population-based samples of 18- to 64-year-old women. The women were of Russian (n = 318), Somali (n = 583), and Kurdish (n = 373) origin or from the general population (n = 243), and had given birth in Finland between 2004 and 2014. The data were obtained from the National Medical Birth Register and the Hospital Discharge Register. Data on gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders were extracted based on relevant International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. The main statistical methods were logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, parity, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and smoking. Results: The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 19.1% in Kurdish, 14.4% in Somali, 9.3% in Russian, and 11.8% in the general population. The prevalence of hypertensive disorders was 5.4% in the general population, 3.8% in Somali, 3.1% in Kurdish, and 1.7% in Russian. When adjusted for confounders, Kurdish women had two-fold odds for gestational diabetes (odds ratio = 1.98; 95% confidence interval = 1.20–3.32) compared with the general population, but the odds for hypertensive disorders did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Women of Kurdish origin were more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Studies with larger samples are required to confirm these findings to develop prevention strategies for later development of type 2 diabetes. Future research including other migrant groups is recommended to identify differences in pregnancy complications among the women in migrant and general population.

Gestational Diabetes in the Arab Gulf Countries: Sitting on a Land-Mine

“…However, data are available on Somali immigrants. In 583 Somali women in Finland, the prevalence of GDM was 14.4% [ 63 ]. Data from immigrants have other biases; therefore, it is harder to extrapolate to the situation in Somalia.…”

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and Uric Acid Levels among Pregnant Women Attending Ruhengeri Referral Hospital, in Rwanda

“…Pregnant women in Russia (1.7%), Kurdish (3.1%) and Somali (3.8%) had lower prevalence of PIH, compared to women in Finland (5.4%). 4 The PIH was observed to be the most common cause of maternal mortality in Ethiopia due to poor awareness. 1 Hypertension in pregnancy is expressed as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or greater and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or greater.…”

“…Pregnant women in Russia (1.7%), Kurdish (3.1%) and Somali (3.8%) had lower prevalence of PIH, compared to women in Finland (5.4%). 4 The PIH was observed to be the most common cause of maternal mortality in Ethiopia due to poor awareness. 1 …”

Gestational diabetes among women of migrant origin in Finland—a population-based study

“…One previous study found that women of Kurdish origin had a higher risk of GDM compared to the general Finnish population. 20 The study was based on a relatively small sample of three migrant groups and could not be generalized to all women of migrant origin in Finland. 20 In recent years, the national prevalence of GDM increased from 11.5% in 2015 to 19% in 2019 in Finland.…”

“… 20 The study was based on a relatively small sample of three migrant groups and could not be generalized to all women of migrant origin in Finland. 20 In recent years, the national prevalence of GDM increased from 11.5% in 2015 to 19% in 2019 in Finland. 21 Most of the recent population growth in Finland has been due to migration flows and the fact that migrant origin women had a higher birth rate than Finnish origin women.…”