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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Crystal C. Tetrick, MPH, Seattle Indian Health Board, P.O. Box 3364, Seattle, WA 98144-2008, 206-834-4028, crystalt@sihb.org, Jane Rees, MS, RD, CD, Maternal and Child Health, University of Washington, Box 357230, Seattle, WA 98195-7230, and Darryl J. Holman, PhD, Anthropology, University of Washington, Box 353100, Seattle, WA 98195-3100.
Objectives. This study examined the relationship between neonatal mortality and birth weight in an effort to determine the birth weight range of optimal survival for Native Americans.
Methods. Using NCHS Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Sets from 1985 to 1997, rates for Native American neonatal mortality per 500g birth weight categories were examined by infant sex, mother's age, mother's education, trimester prenatal care began and maternal diabetes. Optimal birth weight was determined by rates no more than 0.5 greater than the minimum neonatal mortality rate and a risk ratio of less than 2.0.
Results. Lowest neonatal mortality occurred in the birth weight range of 3,000-4,499g. This range did not differ for infant sex or mother's age, except for mothers younger than 15 and older than 45 years of age. Increased survivability occurred in this same birth weight range for infants born to mothers with 12 years of education or more. Survivability was greatest for birth weights 3,500-4,499g when prenatal care began in the first trimester. Maternal diabetes was reported for 4% of births, with lowest mortality in the birth weight range of 4,000-4,499g.
Conclusions. Native Americans have increased survivability and reduced risk for mortality in the birth weight range 3,000-4,499g.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Native Americans, Birth Outcomes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.