Infant mortality and related risk factors among Asian Americans.
To examine differences in perinatal health among nine Asian ethnic subgroups, a descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using linked birth/infant death certificates for 1982 to 1987. When compared with Whites, Asians had a lower proportion of young mothers, unmarried mothers, and women who received first trimester prenatal care; a higher proportion of foreign-born mothers; and a different birthweight distribution. A great deal of heterogeneity was found in risk factors and infant mortality rates among the various Asian ethnic subgroups. Paradoxically, although Asian ethnic subgroups had a higher perinatal risk profile, they had more favorable birth outcomes than did Whites.
Morrow
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Maternal and Child Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento 95814.
Chávez
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Giannoni
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Shah
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People