Higher Rates of Cesarean Sections Found in Somali Immigrant Women in Minnesota

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare prenatal characteristics and postpartum outcomes among Somali and non-Somali women residing in Olmsted County. Methods: We reviewed the medical records for a cohort of Somali women (≥18 years old; N= 298) who had singleton births between January 2009 and December 2014 and for an age-matched non-Somali cohort (N= 298) of women residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Logistic regression models which accounted for repeated measures were used to assess differences in prenatal and postpartum outcomes between Somali and non-Somali women. Results: Somali women had a significantly higher odds of cesarean section (adjusted OR=1.81; 95% CI=1.15, 2.84). Additionally, Somali women had a significantly lower odds of postpartum depression (adjusted OR=0.27; 95% CI=0.12, 0.63). Conclusion: The reported adverse postpartum outcomes have implications for interventions aimed at addressing perinatal care disparity gaps for Somali women immigrant and refugee populations.