Racial and ethnic differences in determinants of intrauterine growth retardation and other compromised birth outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the extent of variation by race/ethnicity in the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes, whether differentials persisted after other risk factors were controlled for, and whether the direction and magnitude of relationships differed by type of outcome.


METHODS
A revised system of measurement was used to estimate multinomial logistic models in a large, nationally representative US data set.


RESULTS
Considerable racial/ethnic variation was found across birth outcome categories; differences persisted in the adjusted parameter estimates; and the effects of other risk factors on birth outcomes were similar as to direction, but varied somewhat in magnitude. The odds of compromised birth outcomes were much higher among African Americans than among Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to persistent racial inequality, we found strong adverse effects of both inadequate and "adequate-plus" prenatal care and smoking. Risk of intrauterine growth retardation was higher in the absence of medical insurance, and risk of all adverse birth outcomes was lower among mothers participating in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Frisbie
W P
WP
Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA.
Biegler
M
M
de Turk
P
P
Forbes
D
D
Pullum
S G
SG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data