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Socioeconomic gradients in infant health across race and ethnicity

Lenna Nepomnyaschy1

  • 1School of Social Work, Rutgers University, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. lennan@ssw.rutgers.edu

Maternal and Child Health Journal
|June 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts infant health differently across racial groups. Higher SES benefits white infants, but not Black or Native American infants, highlighting disparities in health resource utilization.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Sociology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Socioeconomic status (SES) is a known determinant of infant health outcomes.
  • Existing research indicates disparities in infant health across racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
  • The interplay between SES and infant health across diverse racial/ethnic populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate socioeconomic gradients in infant health (low birth weight and small for gestational age).
  • To examine these gradients across multiple racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
  • To determine if SES benefits for infant health are consistent across racial/ethnic lines.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a nationally representative sample of 8,650 children born in the U.S. in 2001.
  • Included oversamples of minority groups and comprehensive SES indicators (education, income, wealth).
  • Analyzed proportions of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) by SES and race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native).

Main Results:

  • A graded relationship between SES indicators and infant health was observed for white mothers.
  • Adjusted income showed a relationship with LBW for Asian and Hispanic mothers.
  • No significant relationship between SES indicators and LBW or SGA was found for Black or American Indian/Alaskan Native mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Some minority racial/ethnic groups do not experience the same infant health benefits from higher SES as white individuals.
  • This suggests barriers exist that prevent certain minority groups from leveraging resources to improve family health.
  • Reducing health disparities requires addressing both resource access and the utilization of those resources by minority populations.

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