Pregnant immigrant women: occupational activity, antenatal care and outcome.

Data from a national sample of births in France in 1981 were used to analyse the relationship between occupational activity, antenatal care and pregnancy outcome among immigrant women. On the whole, occupational activity was less common among immigrant than among French women, although the occupational activity rate varied according to country of origin. Among French women, work during pregnancy was related to better antenatal care and more favourable outcome. The same tendency was observed among immigrant women whatever their origin, though they had less qualified occupations and harder working conditions than those of French women. Occupational activity of immigrant women was more frequent among women with a higher educational level, better knowledge of the French language, and residence in France for a longer time. These characteristics were also associated with better antenatal care, but the relationship between work and antenatal care remained significant after taking them into account.