Infant mortality among Hispanics. A portrait of heterogeneity

J. E. Becerra, C. J. Hogue, H. K. Atrash and N. Perez
Pregnancy and Infant Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.

In the United States, infant mortality risks among Hispanics have not been previously evaluated at the national level. We used the 1983 and 1984 national Linked Birth and Infant Death data sets to compare infant mortality risks among single-delivery infants of Hispanic descent with those among single-delivery infants of non-Hispanic whites (the reference group). We also included the 1983 and 1984 linked birth cohort for single-delivery infants in Puerto Rico. Among all Hispanic groups, the neonatal (less than 28 days) mortality risk was higher among Puerto Rican islanders (relative risk [RR] = 2.3) and continental Puerto Ricans (RR = 1.5) and lower among Cuban-Americans (RR = 1.0) and Mexican-Americans (RR = 1.0). The postneonatal mortality risk (28 to 364 days) was highest among continental Puerto Ricans (RR = 1.2) and lowest among Cuban-Americans (RR = 0.6). Our study underscores the heterogeneity of the Hispanic population in the United States and suggests that interventions to prevent infant mortality be tailored to ethnic-specific risk factors and outcomes.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Researching special populations: retention of Latino gay and bisexual men and transgender persons in longitudinal health research
Kuhns et al.
Health Educ Res 2007;0:cym066v1-cym066.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Obesity Among Latino Preschoolers: Do Children Outgrow the "Epidemiologic Paradox"?
Fuentes-Afflick
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006;160:656-657.
FULL TEXT  

Couples' Immigration Status and Ethnicity as Determinants of Breastfeeding
Gibson-Davis and Brooks-Gunn
Am. J. Public Health 2006;96:641-646.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A System for Rapidly and Accurately Collecting Patients' Race and Ethnicity
Baker et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2006;96:532-537.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Stillbirth and Infant Mortality Among Hispanic Singletons, Twins, and Triplets in the United States
Salihu et al.
Obstet Gynecol 2005;106:789-796.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Differential Effect of Foreign-Born Status on Low Birth Weight by Race/Ethnicity and Education
Acevedo-Garcia et al.
Pediatrics 2005;115:e20-e30.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist in a Low-Income, Mexican American Population
Jutte et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003;157:1169-1176.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Perinatal Outcomes in Two Dissimilar Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Dual Epidemiologic Paradox
Gould et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:e676-682.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Annual Summary of Vital Statistics--2001
MacDorman et al.
Pediatrics 2002;110:1037-1052.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Why Do Mexican Americans Give Birth to Few Low-Birth-Weight Infants?
Buekens et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:347-351.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Independent Primary Care Practice by Nurse Practitioners
Sox
JAMA 2000;283:106-108.
FULL TEXT  

Pregnancy-Related Mortality in Hispanic Women in the United States
HOPKINS et al.
Obstet Gynecol 1999;94:747-752.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mexican American Women's Expressions of the Meaning of Culturally Congruent Prenatal Care
Berry
J Transcult Nurs 1999;10:203-212.
ABSTRACT  

Testing the Epidemiologic Paradox of Low Birth Weight in Latinos
Fuentes-Afflick et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1999;153:147-153.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Maternal Birthplace, Ethnicity, and Low Birth Weight in California
Fuentes-Afflick et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152:1105-1112.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Examining a Paradox: Does Religiosity Contribute to Positive Birth Outcomes in Mexican American Populations?
Magana and Clark
Health Educ Behav 1995;22:96-109.
ABSTRACT