Abstract:

Introduction: Motherhood is one of the areas most affected by immigration, with mothers and children, of all the population sectors, being the most resentful of the influences, good or bad that they suffer, and whose health will be affected more permanently, as effects can last through several generations.
We aim to compare prenatal care received both by immigrant and non immigrant mothers, and analyse determining factors of this care, within the Portuguese health system context.
Materials and Methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive and exploratory study, with a sample of 727 mothers, (249 immigrants and 478 non-immigrants). A questionnaire was prepared for the collection of variables in the study.
Results: The immigrant mothers (34.3%) included in the study, when compared with non-immigrants (65.7%), presented a greater percentage of unplanned pregnancies (34.9%), in which neither parent wanted the pregnancy (24.5%). They underwent prenatal monitoring mainly in public places (83.7%), equipped with nurses (85.4%), went to fewer consultations (21%), and started prenatal care at a later date (7.6%). Regarding the presence of pregnancy complications, weight gain, the examinations, teaching and delivery of the pregnant health report, there were identical results in both groups. As determinants of adequate prenatal care we identified: the status of immigrant and non-immigrant, age, marital status, education, occupation, and employment status ( all p-0,000), household (p-0,032), and family income (p-0,001), the housing situation (p-0,000), including the Internet availability (p-0,000), and the number of rooms (p-0,001), planning and desire of pregnancy (p-0,000), the place where the prenatal care was performed (p-0,000), and health problems in pregnancy (p-0,020).
Conclusions: vulnerability in the social status and in the health of immigrant women is reflected in the care received during pregnancy, so it is important to understand their characteristics in order to adapt care to their real needs.

Keywords:

Immigration, Immigrant, Mother, Healthcare.