Why do foreign-born blacks have lower infant mortality than native-born blacks? New directions in African-American infant mortality research.
OBJECTIVE
This study focuses attention on maternal nutrition and stress as possible reasons for excess black infant mortality after exploring lower infant mortality for the infants of foreign-born black mothers compared to native-born black mothers.


METHODS
All births to non-Hispanic black women in New York City from 1988-1992 were examined and infant mortality for the infants of native-born women was compared to infant mortality for the infants of foreign-born women.


RESULTS
Before controlling for potential confounders on the birth certificate, the infants of native-born black women had a greater risk of infant mortality than the infants of foreign-born black women: OR = 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38, 1.58). After controlling for potential confounders, the infants of native-born black women still had a greater risk of infant mortality than the infants of foreign-born black women: OR(a) = 1.32 (95% Cl = 1.21, 1.43).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal nutrition and stress are possible causes of excess black infant mortality. They should be topics for research and program development.
Rosenberg
Kenneth D
KD
Center for Child and Family Health, Oregon Division of Human Services, Portland 97232, USA. ken.d.rosenberg@state.or.us
Desai
Rani A
RA
Kan
Jianli
J
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*