Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:09:00.729Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ethnicity and obstetric performance in Singapore

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

O. A. C. Viegas ,
W. P. Leong ,
Y. T. Chia ,
S. C. Yeoh  and
S. S. Ratnam
O. A. C. Viegas
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore
W. P. Leong
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore
Y. T. Chia
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore
S. C. Yeoh
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore
S. S. Ratnam
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The influence of ethnicity on obstetric performance in Singapore was assessed by retrospective analysis of all deliveries in the National University Hospital over a 7-year period. Malay mothers were younger, shorter, less educated, of higher parity, were more likely to have had no antenatal care, and had the highest incidence of premature labour. However, mothers of Indian origin had the smallest babies, the highest incidence of low birth weight and significantly higher perinatal mortality rates. Chinese mothers fared better than their Malay and Indian counterparts in all parameters assessed. The ethnic origin of the mother has an important bearing on perinatal performance. This emphasises the importance of designing appropriate strategies to improve perinatal health in the different ethnic groups.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 1995 , pp. 151 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bjerre, I. (1975) Neurological investigation of 5 year old children with low birth weight. Acta Pediatr. Scand. 64, 859.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyle, M. H., Torrance, G. W., Sinclair, J. C. & Horwood, S. P. (1983) Economic evaluation of neonatal intensive care of very low birth weight infants. N. Engl. J. Med. 308, 1330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, V. A., Sawers, R. S., Parsons, R. J., Duncan, S. L. B. & Cooke, I. D. (1982) The value of antenatal cardiotocography in the management of high risk pregnancy. A randomised controlled trial. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 89, 716.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bucher, H. C. & Schmidt, J. G. (1993) Does routine ultrasound scanning improve outcome in pregnancy? Meta-analysis of various outcome measures. Br. med. J. 307, 13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chalmers, I. (1979) Randomised controlled trials of intrapartum fetal monitoring. In: Perinatal Medicine, 260. Edited by O., Thalhamer, K., Baumgarten & A., Pollak. Thieme, Stuttgart.Google Scholar
Chalmers, I. (1980) Better perinatal health. Lancet, ii, 137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chalmers, I., Lawson, J. G. & Turnbull, A. C. (1976) Evaluation of different approaches to obstetric care. Parts I and II. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 83, 921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chamberlain, G., Phillip, E., Howlett, B. & Masters, K. (1978) In: British Births 1970, Vol. 2, Obstetric Care. Heinemann, London.Google Scholar
Chase, H. C. (1967) Infant mortality and weight at birth. 1960 United States birth cohort. Am. J. publ. Hlth, 59, 1618.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Editorial (1977) Something for all and more for those in greater need. A “risk approach” for integrated maternal child health care. WHO Chron. 31, 50.Google Scholar
Fitzhardinge, P. M. & Steven, E. M. (1972a) The small-for-dates infant. I: Later growth patterns. Pediatrics, 49, 671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitzhardinge, P. M. & Steven, E. M. (1972b) The small-for-dates infant. II: Neurological and intellectual sequelae. Pediatrics, 50, 50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flynn, A., Kelly, J., Mansfield, H., Needham, P. G., O'Connor, M. & Viegas, O. A. C. (1982) A randomised controlled trial of non-stress antepartum cardiotography. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 89, 427.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, M., Chng, K. P. & MacGillivray, I. (1980) Is routine antenatal care worth while? Lancet, ii, 78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelso, I. M., Parsons, J. R., Lawrence, F. G., Arora, S. S., Edwards, K. D. & Cooke, I. D. (1978) Am. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 31, 526.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leong, W. P., Viegas, O. A. C. & Ratnam, S. S. (1993) Premature childbirth: social and behavioural risks in Singapore, J. biosoc. Sci. 25, 465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mata, L., Urrutia, J. J. & Mohs, E. (1977) Implications del vajo peso al nacer para la salud publica. Arch. Latinum Nutr. 27, 198.Google Scholar
Mitchell, R. C. (1985) Objectives and outcome of perinatal care. Lancet, ii, 931.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newn, B., Drummond, M. F., Durbin, G. M. & Culley, P. (1984) Costs and outcomes in a regional neonatal intensive care unit. Arch. Dis. Childh. 59, 1064.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Puffer, R. R. & Serrano, C. V. (1975) Maternal Age, Birth Order and Birth Weight: Three Important Determinants in Infant Mortality. Pan American Health Organization Scientific Publications No 294, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Sandhu, B., Stevenson, R. C., Cooke, R. W. I. & Pharoah, P. O. D. (1986) Cost of neonatal intensive care for very low birth weight infants. Lancet, i, 600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Settatree, R. S., Terry, P. B., Matthew, P. M. & Condie, R. G. (1982) Asian stillbirths in West Birmingham. In: Obstetric Problems of Asian Community in Britain, p. 47. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London.Google Scholar
Viegas, O. A. C., Scott, P. H., Cole, T. J., Eaton, P., Needham, P. G. & Wharton, B. A. (1982) Dietary protein energy supplementation of pregnant Asian mothers at Sorento, Birmingham. II: Selective in the third trimester only. Br. med. J. 285, 592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, J. B., Feldman, A., Vohr, B. R. & Oh, W. (1984) Cost-benefit analyses of neonatal intensive care for infants weighing less than 1000 g at birth. Pediatrics, 74, 20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar