Journal of Women's Health
Volume 20, Issue 7, 2011, Pages 1083-1090

Favorable neonatal outcomes among immigrants in Taiwan: Evidence of healthy immigrant mother effect (Article)

Hsieh W.-S. , Hsieh C.-J. , Jeng S.-F. , Liao H.-F. , Su Y.-N. , Lin S.-J. , Chang P.-J. , Chen P.-C.*
  • a Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • b Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, College of Public Health, 17 Syujhou Road, Taipei 10055, Taiwan
  • c School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • d School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • e Department of Medical Genetics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Institutes of Clinical Genomics, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  • f Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
  • g Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
  • h Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, College of Public Health, 17 Syujhou Road, Taipei 10055, Taiwan, Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University, College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Although racial/ethnic disparities in neonatal and infant health are well known, positive associations between migration and perinatal health exist among immigrant mothers in western countries. There are unique marriage migration, East Asia culture, universal national health insurance system, and adequate social support in Taiwan that may differ from the situation in western countries. We aimed to assess the neonatal outcomes among live births to married immigrant mothers in recent years in Taiwan. Methods: We conducted a population-based analysis among all the live births in Taiwan during the period 1998-2003 to assess neonatal outcomes, including incidence of low birth weight and preterm birth and of early and late neonatal mortality, according to maternal nationality. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) associated with low birth weight and preterm birth, and Cox proportional hazards were used to estimate the relative risks (RRs) associated with mortality in the neonatal period. Results: There were a total of 1,405,931 single live births, including 6.6% born to immigrant mothers and 93.4% born to Taiwanese mothers. Disparities existed among the intercultural couples, including paternal age, parental educational level, and residential distribution. Fewer low birth weight and fewer preterm babies were born to immigrant mothers than to Taiwanese mothers. In addition, babies born to immigrant mothers had lower early neonatal and neonatal mortalities than those born to Taiwanese mothers. There were lower risks of having a low birth weight (adjusted OR [AOR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.75) or preterm (AOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.69-0.74) baby and lower hazard ratios (HRs) of having an early neonatal death (adjusted HR [AHR] 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.82) or neonatal death (AHR 0.74, 95% CI 0.64-0.87) in babies born to immigrant mothers. There is a gradual increase in the risks of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with increases in length of residence. Conclusions: Evidence of a healthy immigrant mother effect on neonatal health is clear. Despite lower parental education, advancing paternal age, and spatial distribution disparity, babies born to married immigrant mothers in Taiwan had favorable neonatal outcomes. Copyright © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Vietnam China educational status immigrant human Asian continental ancestry group priority journal health status premature labor Taiwan Humans Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor newborn Mothers paternal age pregnancy Incidence Article low birth weight pregnancy outcome adult infant welfare prematurity live birth Perinatal Care newborn mortality mother child relation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960283927&doi=10.1089%2fjwh.2011.2809&partnerID=40&md5=535ee2018c4c8145c915e876a65dc692
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2011.2809
ISSN: 15409996
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English