• Frode Eick, Odd Martin Vallersnes, Heidi E Fjeld, Ingvil Krarup Sørbye, Sven Eirik Ruud, and Cecilie Dahl.
• Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2023 Sep 1; 41 (3): 317325317-325.

ObjectiveTo compare consultations with pregnant undocumented migrants at emergency primary health care to consultations with pregnant residents of Norway.DesignA cross-sectional study of consultations at several time points.SettingThe study was conducted at the Oslo Accident and Emergency Outpatient Clinic (OAEOC), the main emergency primary care service in Oslo, Norway.SubjectsConsultations with pregnant patients without a Norwegian identity number seeking care at the Department of Emergency General Practice at the OAEOC were identified through a manual search of registration lists from 2009 to 2019. The consultations were categorized by women's residency status as 'probably documented migrant', 'uncertain migrant status', or 'probably undocumented migrant'. We also extracted aggregated data for women with a Norwegian identity number (i.e. residents) presenting in consultations with pregnancy-related (ICPC-2 chapter W) conditions.Main Outcome MeasuresManchester Triage System urgency level at presentation, and hospitalization.ResultsAmong 829 consultations with female patients categorized as probably undocumented migrants, we found 27.1% (225/829) with pregnant women. About half of the pregnant women (54.6% (123/225)) presented with a pregnancy-related condition. Pregnant women that were probably undocumented migrants had an increased risk of being triaged with a high level of urgency at presentation (relative risk (RR) 1.86, 95% CI 1.14-3.04) and being hospitalized (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.21-2.34), compared to pregnant residents.ConclusionPregnant undocumented migrants were more severely sick when presenting to emergency primary care services than pregnant residents. Increased access to primary care and emergency primary care services for pregnant undocumented migrants is urgently needed.

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