Maternal and child health journal
Volume 3, Issue 4, 1999, Pages 177-187

Birth outcomes of immigrant women in the United States, France, and Belgium. (Article)

Guendelman S.* , Buekens P. , Blondel B. , Kaminski M. , Notzon F.C. , Masuy-Stroobant G.
  • a Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States
  • b Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States
  • c Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States
  • d Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States
  • e Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States
  • f Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-7360, United States

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare maternal characteristics and birth outcomes of Mexico-born and native-born mothers in the United States and those of North African mothers living in France and Belgium to French and Belgian nationals. METHODS: We examined information from single live birth certificates for 285,371 Mexico-born and 3,131,632 U.S.-born mothers (including 2,537,264 U.S.-born White mothers) in the United States, 4,623 North African and 103,345 Belgian mothers in Belgium, and a French national random sample consisting of 632 North African and 11,185 French mothers. The outcomes were mean birthweight, low birthweight, and preterm births. Differences between native/nationals and foreign-born mothers in each country were assessed in bivariate and multivariate analyses controlling for maternal risk factors. RESULTS: The adjusted odds for low birthweight were lower for immigrants than native/nationals by 32% in the United States, by 32% in Belgium, and by 30% in France. The adjusted odds for preterm births were lower for immigrants compared with native/nationals by 11% in the United States and by 23% in Belgium. In France, the odds for preterm births were comparable for immigrants and naturalized mothers. Infants of immigrant mothers also had higher mean birthweights in all three countries. CONCLUSION: Despite their disadvantaged status, Mexico-born and North African-born women residing in the United States, France, and Belgium show good birth outcomes. These cannot be explained solely by traditional risk factors. Protective factors and selective migration may offer further clues.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Negro Caucasian demography France risk Population Surveillance human Odds Ratio statistics comparative study ethnology African American Residence Characteristics United States Humans Hispanic Adolescent African Continental Ancestry Group Infant, Newborn female risk factor Risk Factors newborn Africa pregnancy Belgium birth certificate Article pregnancy outcome adult Africa, Northern migration European Continental Ancestry Group Emigration and Immigration Analysis of Variance Birth Certificates Birth Weight African Americans Mexican Americans health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033289227&doi=10.1023%2fA%3a1022328020935&partnerID=40&md5=2b32a779e4eb8b785304a5d4c27b38a7
DOI: 10.1023/A:1022328020935
ISSN: 10927875
Cited by: 127
Original Language: English