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Unmasking adverse birth outcomes among Hispanic subgroups
L M Tumiel1, G M Buck, L E Zayas
1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA. tumiel@acsu.buffalo.edu
Ethnicity & Disease
|July 29, 1998
Summary
Non-Hispanic Black mothers face the highest risks for low birthweight and preterm delivery. Hispanic subgroups show varied risks, highlighting the need for separate analysis beyond a general Hispanic category.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Public health
- Sociodemographic factors in infant health
Background:
- The 1988 Upstate New York Live Birth Certificate was the first to record Hispanic ethnicity and country of origin.
- Previous research often grouped diverse Hispanic populations, potentially masking subgroup-specific health disparities.
- Understanding variations in infant health outcomes among different ethnic and origin groups is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare rates of low birthweight and preterm delivery among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic infants.
- To assess the risk of low birthweight and preterm delivery for Hispanic infants based on their country of origin.
- To determine if Hispanic subgroups have distinct risks for adverse birth outcomes compared to non-Hispanic white and black mothers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 1988 Upstate New York Live Birth Certificate data.
- Employed unconditional backward elimination logistic regression analysis.
- Controlled for relevant confounding factors to accurately assess risks.
Main Results:
- Non-Hispanic Black mothers exhibited the highest risk for both low birthweight and preterm delivery.
- Hispanic infants, as a collective group, had rates comparable to non-Hispanic white infants.
- Significant variations in preterm delivery and low birthweight risks were observed among different Hispanic ethnic subgroups.
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the heterogeneity within the Hispanic population regarding infant health outcomes.
- Treating "Hispanic" as a monolithic group can obscure critical differences in risk.
- Future research and public health strategies should differentiate and analyze Hispanic subgroups individually to address specific disparities effectively.