UNDERSTANDING DEMOGRAPHIC AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSPITALIZED IMMIGRANT FEMALE PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Precise epidemiologic and demographic characteristics of immigrant women admitted to gynecology or obstetrics departments are rarely explored. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to analyze the epidemiologic and demographic characteristics of immigrant female patients hospitalized between 2012 and 2017 in one maternity hospital in south-west Slovenia. Clinical data retrieved from hospital electronic information system were used to analyze these characteristics. In the mentioned period, 605 immigrant women were hospitalized, most of them originating from countries of the former Yugoslavia (60.50%) or former Eastern Bloc (14.05%). The results show that in recent years there has been a constantly growing trend of immigrant women being admitted compared to the total number of hospitalizations. No statistical differences were established in the incidence of abortion, preterm delivery or vacuum extraction between Slovenian and immigrant women, although the analysis revealed a higher rate of cesarean section among immigrant women (chi 2=26.960, p<0.01). Education level seems to be a significant predictor of the likelihood of an abortion in the group of immigrant women (B=-0.492, p=0.015), where less educated women are at a greater risk. To improve what is known about the sexual and reproductive health-related problems of immigrant women, a large-scale epidemiologic study is needed in the near future.