Preferences for Labor and Delivery Practices Between Pregnant Immigrants and US-Born Patients: A Comparative Prospective Antenatal Survey Study

Abstract Objective To compare preferences in pregnant Somali and Sudanese immigrants with US-born women for different labor and delivery procedures and practices. Study Design: Pregnant women who received prenatal care services at the Jericho Road Family Practice were surveyed. Ninety-three consecutive patients agreed to participate. A translator-facilitated questionnaire was administered to Somali-, Sudanese-, and US-born women during antenatal visits. Results : For pain relief in labor, 66.7% of US-born, 64.0% of Somali, and 12.5% of Sudanese women preferred epidural analgesia ( p = .002). More US-born women preferred for the umbilical cord to be cut by their partners (76.2%) vs Somali (6.7%) and Sudanese (0%) ( p p Conclusions : This prospective survey quantifies the differences in preferences for labor and delivery practices from two foreign populations and from US-born women. This information is useful for all physicians who wish to better meet the needs of individual patients, especially those who are from different cultures and backgrounds.