The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50544

Sandra J. Diehl, MPH, Coastal Area Health Education Center, PO Box 9025, Wilmington, NC 28402-9025, 910-343-0161, diehl@med.unc.edu, Shelley L. Galvin, MA, Department of OB/GYN, Mountain Area Health Education Center, 60 Livingston St. Suite 100, Asheville, NC 28801, Trude A. Bennett, DrPH, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, CB# 7445, 401 Rosenau Hall, UNC-CH School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, and Paul A. Buescher, PhD, North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, 1908 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1908.

Objective: Birth outcomes are typically reported as "white/non-white" in vital statistics publications in North Carolina. This study aimed to develop a more specific birth outcomes profile.

Methods: Secondary data analysis using North Carolina birth/death certificate data. Births between 1990 and 1999 were examined across four racial groups (White, African-American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander; non-Hispanic only) and one ethnic group (Hispanic, any race).

Results: 1,069,932 births were analyzed. White, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islanders had similar outcomes. Native Americans and African Americans had the poorest outcomes. Low birthweight increased for all groups except Hispanics. Prematurity varied, with increases for Whites, Hispanics, and Native Americans, stable rates for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and a decline for African-Americans. Infant mortality also varied, with increases among Hispanics and Native Americans. The leading cause of death differed between groups.

Conclusion: Considerable variability exists in "non-white' birth outcomes, thus it is important to examine data separately. This information is useful for prenatal interventions, resource distribution, and policy decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe racial and ethnic variation in birth outcomes in North Carolina over a 10-year period.
• Recognize changing demographics in North Carolina and how that affects "non-white" vital statistics reporting.
• Discuss the importance of examining and reporting racial and ethnic differences in birth outcomes as we work to eliminate disparities.

Keywords: Infant Mortality, 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.