title: Do foreign- and U.S.-born mothers across racial/ethnic groups have a similar risk profile for selected sociodemographic and periconceptional factors?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined differences in selected pregnancy-related risk factors, including maternal sociodemographic characteristics, health-related conditions, and periconceptional behavioral factors, among foreign-born versus U.S.-born control mothers across race/ethnic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the risk factors, for foreign-born Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) mothers, compared to their U.S.-born counterparts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across all race/ethnic groups, foreign-born mothers were older and had lower odds of obesity compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. With the exception of foreign-born black mothers, foreign-born mothers from other race/ethnic groups had significantly lower odds of binge drinking during the periconceptional period. Compared to U.S.-born, foreign-born Hispanic mothers had twice the odds of gestational diabetes (OR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.36-3.66). Certain health behaviors were less prevalent in foreign-born black mothers (e.g., folic acid use; OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.31-0.96) and foreign-born API mothers (e.g., cigarette smoking; OR = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.02-0.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences in pregnancy related risk factors during the periconceptional period and throughout pregnancy were observed between maternal nativity groups and across race/ethnicity. Prevention efforts for both prepregnancy and after conception should be designed and delivered according to maternal nativity for each racial/ethnic group.
authors.affiliation: Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, USA.
authors.forename: Tunu A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ramadhani
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Canfield
authors.forename: Noha H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Royle
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: D Kim
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheuerle
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology