Birthweight differences among infants of North African immigrants and Belgians in Belgium.
BACKGROUND
Infants of North African immigrants are reported to have higher birthweights than their Belgian counterparts. It is unclear what mechanism contributes to this difference.


METHODS
Analyses were based on a hospital-based cohort of 1,162 women.


RESULTS
Infants of North African immigrants were less likely to be born preterm, compared to infants of Belgian women. After adjusting for sociodemographic and maternal factors, the estimated difference in mean birthweight was 74 g (p=0.05). When limited to term births, this difference was 28 g (p=0.42).


CONCLUSIONS
The difference in mean birthweight between North African and Belgian infants was explained by differences in preterm birth and other risk factors.
Vahratian
Anjel
A
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. vahratia@mail.nih.gov
Buekens
Pierre
P
Delvaux
Thérèse
T
Boutsen
Michel
M
Wang
Yue
Y
Kupper
Lawrence L
LL
D000328:Adult; D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000208:ethnology; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors