The outcome of pregnancy in an immigrant Ethiopian population in Israel.

To study the assumption that obstetric risk factors would change over time in an immigrant Ethiopian population, a retrospective study of the records of singleton births among the Ethiopian immigrants between 1981-88 was undertaken and compared to a similar study of the general population. The Ethiopian immigrants were characterized by pregnancies at age extremes, a greater incidence of preeclampsia and premature deliveries, and a lower incidence of premature rupture of membranes. There was over time an increase in maternal weight gain among the Ethiopians as well as an increase in the incidence of preeclampsia and perinatal mortality.