The East Timorese: a high-risk ethnic minority in UK obstetrics: a cohort study

Objective: To observe the incidence of antenatal risk-factors and adverse maternal outcome in women of East Timorese origin within a UK population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed a sample of women of East Timorese Origin (N = 42) attending UK maternity services from 01/2011 to 09/2012 compared to a control group of a standard UK maternity population (N = 7210). Data on the rate of pregnancy related risk-factors and complications were obtained from a computerized patient note database (NIMATS). Results: The East Timorese were at significant risk antenatally of anaemia (OR 19.5 (95% CI 10.2-37.2) (p<0.001)), gestational diabetes (OR 10.6 (95% CI 4.6-24.4) (p<0.001)) and hypertension in pregnancy (OR 4.6 (95% CI 1.4-15.3) (p<0.01)) as well as late booking for care (OR 19.5 (95% CI 10.2-37.2) p<0.001). In terms of post-partum complications there was a significant risk of admission to the intensive-care unit (OR 20.0 (95% CI 4.5-89.0) p<0.001) and of postpartum hemorrhage (OR 15.9 (95% CI 7.7-33.0) p<0.001). In 72 documented occasions an interpreter could not be obtained. Conclusions: Women from East Timor are a high-risk ethnic minority who, with added risk-factors of late booking and difficulty in obtaining interpreters are at greater risk of complications in pregnancy and the puerperium.