Análisis de la utilización de medicamentos y otros datos demográficos en la población inmigrante (período 2000-2004)

Abstract

Objective: To detect significant variations in variables related to the care of gestation between the immigrant and autochthonous pregnant women in Spain. Material and Methods: Data come from the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC), an ongoing hospitalbased case-control study and surveillance system. Collaborating physicians, identify the cases and control infants, and collect the same information in both groups of children (about 312 data) on reproductive and family history, and prenatal exposures. We have analysed the mothers of the control infants of the ECEMC during the period 2000 to 2004. Results: Of the total of 5,443 control's mothers, 715 were immigrants (13.14%). These immigrant women compared to the Spanish ones, are younger, plan less their pregnancies and realize fewer visits to the gynaecologist during gestation. Regarding to the use of 36 groups of drugs during pregnancy, immigrants consume less vitamins and antianemic preparations (including iron and folic acid) and drugs for thyroid therapy (both thyroid and antithyroid preparations), and more drugs for gynaecological infections and for cardiac therapy. Conclusions: The results strongly suggest that immigrant women have less medical health control during their pregnancies than autochthonous population. Thus, it is necessary to promote campaigns to inform preventive measures to this population.