 |
 |

Low Birth Weight and Latino EthnicityExamining the Epidemiologic Paradox
Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH;
Peter Lurie, MD, MPH
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(7):665-674.
Abstract
Objective To assess the relation between Latino ethnicity, Latino subgroup, and low birth weight (LBW).
Data Sources From the MEDLINE computer database, we used the key words birth weight; infant, LBW; Latinos; Hispanic Americans; Cuban Americans; Mexican Americans; and Puerto Ricans to identify studies that analyzed LBW in Latinos.
Study Selection Thirty-two studies, published from 1982 to 1996, that analyzed US Latinos and whites or multiple Latino subgroups, that used the revised definition of LBW (<2500 g), and had a large sample size (> 10 000) were selected.
Data Extraction Two reviewers extracted LBW rates and data on the relation between Institute of Medicine risk factors and LBW by maternal ethnicity and Latino subgroup.
Data Synthesis Low-birth-weight rates were similar for Latino (median, 6.2%) and white infants (median, 5.8%). By Latino subgroup, LBW rates were similar for Central/South American, Cuban, Mexican, and white infants. Puerto Rican infants had consistently higher LBW rates (median, 9.1%). Two risk factors—maternal birth-place and gestational weight gain—were identified as confounders of the relation between Latino ethnicity, Latino subgroup, and LBW.
Conclusions Low-birth-weight rates of Latinos and whites are similar, consistent with the "epidemiologic paradox" of unexpectedly favorable perinatal outcomes for Latinos. However, this paradoxical relation for all Latinos masks the notably elevated LBW risk among Puerto Ricans. Further study of LBW among Latinos, including cultural factors, is needed.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:665-674
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics (Dr Fuentes-Afflick), Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations (Dr Fuentes-Afflick), the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Drs Fuentes-Afflick and Lurie), Institute for Health Policy Studies (Drs Fuentes-Afflick and Lurie), and the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Dr Lurie), School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
CiteULike Connotea Delicious Digg Facebook Reddit Technorati Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
 |
Dietary behaviors, physical activity, and cigarette smoking among pregnant Puerto Rican women
Gollenberg et al.
Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87:1844-1851.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Do mother's education and foreign born status interact to influence birth outcomes? Clarifying the epidemiological paradox and the healthy migrant effect
Auger et al.
J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2008;62:402-409.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Sharpening the Focus on Acculturative Change: ARSMA-II, Stress, Pregnancy Anxiety, and Infant Birthweight in Recently Immigrated Latinas
Campos et al.
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences 2007;29:209-224.
ABSTRACT
Heterogeneity of Childhood Asthma Among Hispanic Children: Puerto Rican Children Bear a Disproportionate Burden
Lara et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:43-53.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Importance of Generational Status in Examining Access to and Utilization of Health Care Services by Mexican American Children
Burgos et al.
Pediatrics 2005;115:e322-e330.
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
Perinatal Outcomes in Two Dissimilar Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Dual Epidemiologic Paradox
Gould et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:e676-e682.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Health of Latino Children: Urgent Priorities, Unanswered Questions, and a Research Agenda
Flores et al.
JAMA 2002;288:82-90.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
An Anomaly Within the Latino Epidemiological Paradox: The Latino Adolescent Male Mortality Peak
Hayes-Bautista et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156:480-484.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Acculturation Status, Birth Outcomes, and Family Planning Compliance Among Hispanic Teens
Jones et al.
The Journal of School Nursing 2001;17:83-89.
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
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
Access Barriers to Health Care for Latino Children
Flores et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152:1119-1125.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|