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Infertility Consults in Immigrant and Refugee Women in Ontario: Population-Based Cohort Study

  • Reproductive Epidemiology: Short Communication
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Abstract

Though immigrant women comprise a growing portion of the Canadian population, there remains a lack of information on the rates of infertility diagnosis in this group. Our study aimed to investigate the differences in rates of infertility consults between refugee, non-refugee immigrant, and Canadian-born women. We conducted a population-based matched cohort study in women 15–45 years of age in Ontario. Immigration status was defined as refugee, non-refugee immigrant, and Canadian-born woman. Refugee and non-refugee immigrant women were matched by age and residence in the same Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to two Canadian-born women. The cohort was followed for 2 years for occurrence of infertility consult. Proportion of infertility consults by immigration status was calculated and differences between groups were assessed using standardized differences (SD). Modified Poisson regression was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) for infertility consults by immigration status after adjusting for confounding variables. Our results showed an increased proportion of infertility consults among both refugees (4.7%) and non-refugee immigrant women (5.8%) compared to their Canadian-born matches (2.8% and 3.2%, respectively), with SD ≧ 0.1 in most stratified age groups, denoting a meaningful statistical difference. In the multivariable analysis, relative to Canadian-born women, the RR for fertility consults was increased in refugee women (RR 1.66, CI 95% 1.58–1.75), and non-refugee immigrants (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.74–1.80). These findings may be explained by immigrant women originating from areas with higher infertility rates, or their experience of higher than average stress levels, a known risk factor for infertility.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by ICES, which is funded by an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). No endorsement by ICES or the Ontario MOHLTC is intended or should be inferred. Parts of this material are based on data and/or information compiled and provided by CIHI. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions, and statements expressed in the material are those of the author(s), and not necessarily those of CIHI. Parts or whole of this material are based on data and/or information compiled and provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) current to March 31st, 2017. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions, and statements expressed in the material are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of IRCC. This study was made possible with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Human Development, Child & Youth Health (IHDCYH), grant number MFM – 146444.

Funding

This study was made possible with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Human Development, Child & Youth Health (IHDCYH), grant number MFM – 146444.This study was supported by ICES, which is funded by an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). No endorsement by ICES or the Ontario MOHLTC is intended or should be inferred. Parts of this material are based on data and/or information compiled and provided by CIHI. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions, and statements expressed in the material are those of the author(s), and not necessarily those of CIHI. Parts or whole of this material are based on data and/or information compiled and provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) current to March 31st, 2017. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions, and statements expressed in the material are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of IRCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Undergraduate Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Valeria Rodriguez

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Valeria Rodriguez, Jessica Pudwell & Maria P. Velez

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Hossai Furmli & Michael E. Green

  4. ICES, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Michael E. Green, Rebecca Griffiths & Maria P. Velez

Authors
  1. Valeria Rodriguez
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  2. Hossai Furmli
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  3. Michael E. Green
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  4. Rebecca Griffiths
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  5. Jessica Pudwell
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  6. Maria P. Velez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria P. Velez.

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Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was reviewed for ethical compliance by the Queen’s University Health Sciences & Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board and received initial clearance on May 4, 2020 (No. 6029483).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Rodriguez, V., Furmli, H., Green, M.E. et al. Infertility Consults in Immigrant and Refugee Women in Ontario: Population-Based Cohort Study. Reprod. Sci. 29, 1661–1665 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-022-00871-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-022-00871-9

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