Predictors of Differential Birth Outcomes among Hispanic Subgroups in the United States: The Role of Maternal Risk Characteristics and Medical Care

• Published in: Social science quarterly Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 407 - 433
• Main Authors: Albrecht, Stan L., Clarke, Leslie L., Miller, Michael K., Farmer, Frank L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, MA University of Texas Press 01.06.1996; Blackwell; University of Texas Press, in cooperation with the Southwestern Social Science Association; University of Texas at Austin (University of Texas Press)
• Subjects: Birth rate; Births; Body Weight; Childbirth; Cuban Americans; Datasets; Death; Demographics; Demography; Groups; Health Care; Health outcomes; Hispanic American people; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic people; Hispanics; Human ecology and demography; Infant Mortality; Infants; Latin American Cultural Groups; Low birth weight; Medical care; Mexican Americans; Mortality Rates; Motherhood; Of General Interest; Outcomes; Predictors; Premature Infants; Prenatal care; Public health; Puerto Rican Americans; Risk; Social sciences; Sociodemographic Factors; Socioeconomics; Sociology; U.S.A; United States; United States of America; Womens Health Care; United States Of America; Mexican; Demography; Birth Order; Health; Place of Abode; Demographic evolution; Birth rate; Chicano; Puerto Ricans; Marital status; Mother; Immigration; Cuban; Comparative analysis; Demographic behaviour; Woman; Child; Fecundity; Age; Community
• ISSN: 0038-4941; 1540-6237

Objective. Prior research has identified a number of barriers to health access for Hispanics, including socioeconomic factors, language and cultural differences, and constraints on access. Yet, despite these problems, Hispanic health as reflected in low birthweight and infant mortality rates compares favorably with more socioeconomically advantaged groups. The purpose of this research is to provide additional understanding of why this occurs. Methods. This issue is addressed by using national linked birth/infant death records to assess the influence of a set of sociodemographic and medical care variables on prematurity, low birthweight, and mortality for five Hispanic subgroups: Cubans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Central/South Americans, and others. Results. Hispanic subgroups differ significantly on these measures of suboptimal birth outcomes. The most consistent finding relates to the relatively advantaged position of Cuban Americans and the relatively disadvantaged position of Puerto Ricans. Multivariate models indicate that while some of these differences are due, in part, to sociodemographic profiles, important differences remain even when controlling for these factors. Conclusions. These findings suggest that the groups require separate treatment in future research both because of differences in outcomes and because the predictors of those outcomes vary from one group to another.