Based on data retrieved from the Danish Medical Birth Register, deliveries among Danish and immigrant women were compared in the years 1983-1987. The women were divided into two groups, primiparous and multiparous, and then compared by frequency and type of complications and interventions during labour. Five hospitals in the Copenhagen area were selected and more than 40,000 women were included in the survey. About 3,500 were from Yugoslavia, Turkey, Pakistan and Morocco and the remainder were from Denmark. An increased frequency of complications and interventions during labour was recorded among primiparous in comparison to multiparous during the period. This observation was not related to nationality. Stimulation of labour by intravenous drugs was more frequent among immigrant women than Danish women and was particular frequent among Moroccan and Pakistani women. Among these nationalities higher frequencies of complications were not recorded and the use of intravenous drugs did not imply more instrumental deliveries. It is presumed that one of the reasons why the use of intravenous drugs is more frequent among immigrant women is due to a feeling of insecurity during labour. This might be caused by defective communication between the woman in labour and the midwife. The subject calls for closer investigations based on case records and the women's own experiences. The necessities for special training of immigrant women and staff members in maternity wards are pointed out.
