Triethnic differences in pregnancy outcomes: findings from the GLOWBS study

Findings are presented from the Galveston Low Birthweight Survey (GLOWBS), conducted at The University of Texas Medical Branch from 1986 through 1987. One full year of delivery logbook data were abstracted on all live, single births (N = 3904) to Anglo (n = 2114), black (n = 902), and Hispanic (n = 888) mothers. Analyses include triethnic comparisons of pregnancy outcomes and maternal characteristics through analysis of variance and both crude and adjusted logistic regression for deleterious pregnancy outcomes in blacks relative to non-blacks. The most striking finding is a consistent black disadvantage that withstands controlling for parity, age, and marital status. Blacks have a significantly lower mean birthweight, shorter mean gestation, lower 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores, and a higher incidence of both low birthweight (RR = 1.89) and prematurity (RR = 1.57) than either Anglos or Hispanics, between whom no differences are found.