N E Reichman1, G M Kenney. 1. Office of Population Research, Princeton University, NJ, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: With the influx of Latin American immigrants to the United States and the relatively high fertility of Hispanic women, the importance of understanding patterns of birth outcomes within the heterogeneous Hispanic community is growing. METHODS: Vital statistics data linked with hospital discharge files for single, liveborn infants delivered in New Jersey to state residents in 1989 and 1990 are used to examine the effects of maternal birthplace and Hispanic ethnicity on early initiation of prenatal care, low birth weight, infant mortality and newborn hospital costs. Multivariate analyses control for a range of demographic, economic, behavioral and medical factors. RESULTS: White women of Puerto Rican descent have a significantly higher risk than both non-Hispanic whites and other Hispanic whites of having a low-birth-weight baby. However, their infants do not have an increased risk of mortality, and newborn hospitalization costs are not elevated for this group. Mexican-born white women begin prenatal care later than their U.S.-born counterparts, but do not have worse birth outcomes. The sharpest contrasts are not among Hispanics but between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white women born in the same place. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity and birthplace affect prenatal care and birth outcomes but are probably not as significant as racial differences. Poor outcomes without elevated newborn costs may indicate less access to high-quality neonatal care among some ethnic groups.
CONTEXT: With the influx of Latin American immigrants to the United States and the relatively high fertility of Hispanic women, the importance of understanding patterns of birth outcomes within the heterogeneous Hispanic community is growing. METHODS: Vital statistics data linked with hospital discharge files for single, liveborn infants delivered in New Jersey to state residents in 1989 and 1990 are used to examine the effects of maternal birthplace and Hispanic ethnicity on early initiation of prenatal care, low birth weight, infant mortality and newborn hospital costs. Multivariate analyses control for a range of demographic, economic, behavioral and medical factors. RESULTS: White women of Puerto Rican descent have a significantly higher risk than both non-Hispanic whites and other Hispanic whites of having a low-birth-weight baby. However, their infants do not have an increased risk of mortality, and newborn hospitalization costs are not elevated for this group. Mexican-born white women begin prenatal care later than their U.S.-born counterparts, but do not have worse birth outcomes. The sharpest contrasts are not among Hispanics but between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white women born in the same place. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity and birthplace affect prenatal care and birth outcomes but are probably not as significant as racial differences. Poor outcomes without elevated newborn costs may indicate less access to high-quality neonatal care among some ethnic groups.
Entities:
Keywords:
Americas; Biology; Birth Weight; Body Weight; Child Health Services--cost; Correlation Studies; Cultural Background; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Ethnic Groups; Health; Health Services; Hispanics; Infant Mortality; Low Birth Weight; Maternal Health Services; Maternal-child Health Services; Measurement; Mortality; New Jersey; North America; Northern America; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Primary Health Care; Research Methodology; Research Report; Statistical Studies; Studies; United States
Authors: Maganizo B Chagomerana; William C Miller; Brian W Pence; Mina C Hosseinipour; Irving F Hoffman; Robert J Flick; Hannock Tweya; Soyapi Mumba; Frank Chimbwandira; Kimberly A Powers Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2017-04-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Angela Bermúdez-Millán; Grace Damio; Joan Cruz; Karen D'Angelo; Sofia Segura-Pérez; Amber Hromi-Fiedler; Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2011-11
Authors: Audra L Gollenberg; Penelope Pekow; Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson; Patty S Freedson; Glenn Markenson; Lisa Chasan-Taber Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2011-01
Authors: Keila N Lopez; Wendy N Nembhard; Ying Wang; Gang Liu; James E Kucik; Glenn Copeland; Suzanne M Gilboa; Russell S Kirby; Mark Canfield Journal: Birth Defects Res Date: 2017-12-01 Impact factor: 2.344