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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Megan A. Bowles, MD, Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, HRP Redwood Building, Stanford, CA 94305, 650 3218833, meganssc@comcast.net and Yvonne Maldonado, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Cypress Hall E-15, 550 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305.

Birth weights of term infants differ significantly by racial/ethnic group. California birth certificate data from 2000-2004 (2.5 million births) was used to look at mean birth weights in 8 racial/ethnic groups, White, Mexican, other Hispanic, Asian (not Chinese or Indian), Chinese, Asian Indian, Pacific Islander and Black. Using White infants as the reference group, all other groups measured, besides Pacific Islanders, were significantly lighter (p<.0001) than White infants. This difference ranged from 69 gms for Mexican infants to 257 gms for Asian Indian infants. It may not be appropriate to use birth weight standards based on white infants to classify infants of other racial/ethnic groups. Percentage of LBW and VLBW infants at term was also found to differ significantly by racial/ethnic group. Blacks and Asian Indians had the highest rates of LBW and VLBW weight infants (Black 9.69%, Asian Indians 7.17% vs. Whites 4.02%). VLBW infants had the highest rates of adequate prenatal care followed by LBW infants, in all racial/ethnic groups (adequate prenatal care for VLBW = 75.05%, LBW= 68.32% and normal weight = 61.74%, p<.0001). Although studies regarding perinatal racial disparities are available for blacks, sociodemographic data regarding distinct Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups are necessary to understand disparities within these communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize that birth weights vary significantly among different racial/ethnic groups.
• List racial/ethnic groups with the highest rates of LBW and VLBW infants.
• Discuss disparities in prenatal health care among distinct Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups.

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Prenatal Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered