Differing postneonatal mortality rates of Mexican-American infants with United-States-born and Mexico-born mothers in Chicago.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine the relationship between maternal nativity and the postneonatal mortality rate of urban Mexican-American infants.


METHODS
This is a population-based study.


METHODS
Stratified and logistic regression analyses were performed on a data set of 1992-1995 computerized birth-death records of all Mexican-American infants born to Chicago residents with appended 1990 United States Census income and 1995 Chicago Department of Public Health data.


RESULTS
In Chicago, Mexican-American infants (N = 10,599) of US-born mothers had a postneonatal mortality rate of 3.2/1,000 compared to 2.1/1,000 for infants (40,813) of Mexico-born mothers; relative risk (95% confidence interval) equaled 1.5 (1.0-2.3). The adjusted odds ratio of postneonatal mortality was 1.4 (1.1-1.9) for Mexican-American infants of US-born mothers. The mortality rate due to preventable causes (sudden infant death syndrome, homicides, non-intentional injuries, and infections) for Mexican-American infants of US-born mothers was twice that of infants of Mexico-born mothers; relative risk (95% confidence interval) equaled 2.2 (1.3-3.8); this nativity differential persisted in non-impoverished communities.


CONCLUSIONS
The postneonatal mortality rate of urban Mexican-American infants with US-born mothers exceeds that of infants with Mexico-born mothers. This nativity disparity is attributable to preventable causes.
Collins
J W
JW
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. jcollins@northwestern.edu
Papacek
E
E
Schulte
N F
NF
Drolet
A
A
D000069:Acculturation; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000208:ethnology; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States