Do immigration and acculturation have an impact on hyperemesis gravidarum? Results of a study in Berlin/Germany

Abstract

Question: How large is the number of immigrant women being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) among the in-patients in a University hospital in Germany? Does migration have an impact on the psychosocial state of HG patients? Does acculturation have an impact on psychosocial distress in HG patients? Methods: The following methods were used: retrospective evaluation of all in-patients with HG from 1/1997 to 11/2009, inquiry of a consecutively surveyed group (from 2007 to 2009) of HG in-patients with a questionnaire set: socio-demographic data, questionnaire on psychic distress (SCL-90-R) questionnaire on migration/acculturation, and comparison of German patients and patients with immigration backgrounds as well as among immigrant groups. Results: During the 13-year study period, there were 4.5 times more immigrants treated for HG than native German patients. Compared to the age standardized resident population, the number of women with immigration backgrounds is over-proportionally high. The HG patients scored high in the SCL-90-R scale “somatization” without showing a higher level of psychic distress than the native patients. Conclusions: Experience of migration is an etiological cofactor for HG. The grade of acculturation does not have a significant influence on the psychic well-being of HG patients.

Keywords::

• Acculturation
• hyperemesis gravidarum
• immigration
• SCL-90-R
• somatization

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no declarations of interest.

Current knowledge on this subject

• HG is a multifactorially induced disease with great influence of psychosocial cofactors.

• The process of immigration has possible negative impact on the health status.

• Experience of immigration as a cofactor for the etiology of HG is little examined.

What this study adds

• Evidence that certain factors of the migration process could trigger the HG symptoms.

• Immigrants with HG have no specific psychic symptomatology.

• The grade of acculturation is of minor influence for the psychic status of patients with HG.