The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61846

Vani R. Bettegowda, MHS¹, Tamara Dumanovsky, PhD², and Eileen Rillamas-Sun, MPH¹. (1) Bureau of Family Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2 Lafayette St., 18th Floor, Box 34-A, New York, NY 10007, 212-442-1810, vbettego@health.nyc.gov, (2) Department of Policy and Planning, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth St., 6th Fl., New York, NY 10007

Background: Nationally, 21.4% of all live births in 2000 were to foreign-born women compared to 53.1% (n= 66,700) in New York City (NYC). Research indicates that foreign-born women tend to have better birth outcomes compared to U.S. born women, including lower infant mortality and a lower percentage of low birthweight and pre-term births. Objective: To explore differences in birth outcomes between foreign-born and U.S. born women by maternal and infant characteristics in NYC. Methods: All data were obtained from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Statistics annual live birth and composite birth/death files for the years of 1991 through 2000. Descriptive analyses compare demographic and epidemiological characteristics of births and infant deaths between foreign-born and U.S. born women. Results: Women emigrating from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and China accounted for a third (30.7%) of live births to foreign-born women in 2000. Infants born to foreign-born women were less likely to be low birthweight and pre-term (p <0.05) in both 1991 and 2000. The infant mortality rate (IMR) in 1991 was lower among foreign-born mothers (10.1) compared to U.S. born mothers (12.6). In 2000, the disparity in IMR between foreign-born and U.S. born women appears to have diminished (6.5, 6.8, respectively). However, IMR in 2000 was highest among mothers from Jamaica (13.8) and Puerto Rico (10.1). Conclusions: Overall, infants born to foreign-born women in NYC appear to have better perinatal outcomes. However, there is significant variation in birth outcomes by country of origin, and providers need to be sensitive to the social and cultural practices of these diverse immigrant populations.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Describe differences in birth outcomes between foreign-born and U.S. born women by maternal and infant characteristics in New York City.
  7. Identify disparities in infant mortality by country of origin in order to better understand and interpret these disparities in a social and cultural context.

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Immigrants

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.