ETHNIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES IN REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF NEWBORNS AND MOTHERS FROM EAST SLOVAKIA: ISEE-640

Abstract

The gypsies minority, particularly females, and their health parameters are completely different from other population groups. Gypsies minorities create in the former socialist countries important political, social, integrating but also health status problems. Knowledge about health of gypsies is only from a few scientific studies, because general governmental statistics of morbidity, mortality, basic health do not allow to divide population on white and gypsies, so we need planned and structural research, we need data collection for epidemiological studies to create results about worsening health condition among gypsies, including reproductive parameters and females health status.

Data from 324 maternal and newborn obstetrics reports were retrospectively collected on regional Gynaecologic and obstetrical centre in Kosice. Maternal reports included 324 females of both white and gypsies ethnic. Maternal reports included data about birth weight, birth length, age of mother, complications during pregnancy, Apgar score for newborn vitality, smoking, marital status, gestational age, economic activity of mother and father.

Statistical multi-logistic regression adjusted for sex of newborn, age of mother, smoking status, martial status shows great differences in the birth weight and birth length of children depending on ethnic and social status. The group of gypsies children have statistically significant lower birth weight then white. Also prevalence of low birth weight LBW and very low birth weight VLBW is higher among gypsies group, adjusted OR of LBW and VLBW varied between 1,88–2,55. Gestational age is among gypsies women lower, it means earlier pre-term delivery is more frequent. Prenatal gynaecological disorders are also significantly higher in the group of gypsies mothers.

The results of our retrospective cross sectional study are showing a great differences between white females and gypsies females reproductive parameters. The study is still ongoing as a part of the research grant VEGA1/9310/02.