Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Healthy Immigrant Effect: Preterm Births Among Immigrants and Refugees in Syracuse, NY

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives The healthy immigrant effect is the phenomenon by which immigrants experience more positive health outcomes than the native-born population in developed countries. The strength of this effect appears to be related to country of origin, health outcome, healthcare and integration policies of receiving countries, as well as immigration class. This secondary analysis of birth records examines whether immigrants and mothers from refugee countries have lower adjusted risk of preterm births than US-born mothers in Syracuse, NY, a preferred refugee resettlement area. Methods This secondary analysis included 6354 electronic birth records for residents in the city of Syracuse, NY who gave birth to singleton infants between 2009 and 2011. Multivariate log-binomial regression was used to calculate the adjusted relative risk for preterm birth among foreign-born mothers and mothers from refugee countries, compared to US-born mothers. Results Infants born to both foreign-born women and to women from refugee countries had decreased risks of being born preterm compared to infants born to US mothers, controlling for race, late/no prenatal care, maternal age less than 18 years and smoking. Conclusion Our findings support a healthy immigrant effect for preterm births both among all foreign-born immigrants and among the subsample of women from refugee countries. Mother’s nativity is likely a proxy for unmeasured factors (e.g., prenatal stress, maternal diet, etc.) that may explain the relationship between mother’s nativity and preterm births. Additional research is needed to better understand the underlying factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Personal communication with Director of Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement in Syracuse, NY, August 2014.

References

  1. Alegría, M., Canino, G., Shrout, P. E., Woo, M., Duan, N., Vila, D., et al. (2008). Prevalence of mental illness in immigrant and non-immigrant US Latino groups. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 359–369.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Auger, N., Luo, Z. C., Platt, R. W., & Daniel, M. (2008). Do mother’s education and foreign born status interact to influence birth outcomes? Clarifying the epidemiological paradox and the healthy migrant effect. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(5), 402–409.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Elo, I. T., Vang, Z., & Culhane, J. F. (2014). Variation in birth outcomes by mother’s country of birth among non-Hispanic black women in the United States. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(10), 2371–2381.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Scribner, R. (1996). Paradox as paradigm-the health outcomes of Mexican Americans. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 303–305.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sundquist, J., & Winkleby, M. A. (2000). Country of birth, acculturation status and abdominal obesity in a national sample of Mexican American women and men. International Journal of Epidemiology, 29, 470–477.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gould, J. B., Madan, A., Qin, C., & Chavez, G. (2003). Perinatal outcomes in two dissimilar immigrant populations in the United States: A dual epidemiologic paradox. Pediatrics, 111(6), E676–E682.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Roads to Refugee. (2015). Definitions. http://www.roads-to-refuge.com.au/whois/whois_definitions.html.

  8. Gagnon, A. J., Merry, L., & Robinson, C. (2002). A systematic review of refugee women’s reproductive health. Refuge: Canada’s Periodical on Refugees, 21(1), 6–17.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wasse, H., Holt, V. L., & Daling, J. R. (1994). Pregnancy risk factors and birth outcomes in Washington state: A comparison of Ethiopian-born and US-born women. American Journal of Public Health, 84(9), 1505–1507.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Janevic, T., Savitz, D. A., & Janevic, M. (2011). Maternal education and adverse birth outcomes among immigrant women to the United States from Eastern Europe: A test of the healthy migrant hypothesis. Social Science and Medicine, 73(3), 429–435.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gann, P., Nghiem, L., & Warner, S. (1989). Pregnancy characteristics and outcomes of Cambodian refugees. American Journal of Public Health, 79(9), 1251–1257.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gagnon, A. J., Zimbeck, M., Zeitlin, J., & The, R. O. A. M. (2009). Collaboration. Migration to western industrialised countries and perinatal health: A systematic review. Social Science and Medicine, 69(6), 934–946.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. United States Census Bureau/American FactFinder. (2007–2011) DP02: Selected social characteristics in the United States [internet]. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office [cited 29 July 2014]. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP02&prodType=table.

  14. United States Census Bureau/American FactFinder. (2007–2011). S0501: Selected characteristics of the native and foreign-born populations [internet]. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office, [cited 29 July 2014]. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_S0501&prodType=table.

  15. United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. “Refugee Arrivals 2002–2011.” Office of Admissions, Refugee Processing Center. http://www.wrapsnet.org/Reports/InteractiveReporting/tabid/393/EnumType/Report/Default.aspx?ItemPath=/rpt_WebArrivalsReports/MX%20%20Arrivals%20by%20Destination%20and%20Nationality.

  16. Savitz, D. A., & Murnane, P. (2010). Behavioral influences on preterm birth: A review. Epidemiology., 21(3), 291–299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. York, T. P., Eaves, L. J., Neale, M. C., & Strauss, J. F. (2014). The contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the duration of pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210(5), 398–405.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Blondel, B., Kogan, M. D., Alexander, G. R., Dattani, N., Kramer, M. S., Macfarlane, A., et al. (2002). The impact of the increasing number of multiple births on the rates of preterm birth and low birth weight: An international study. American Journal Public Health, 92(8), 1323–1330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. World Health Organization. (2015). What is a preterm baby? http://www.who.int/features/qa/preterm_babies/en/.

  20. IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

  21. CDC. Preterm Birth. (2014). Retrieved August 23, 2014, http://wonder.cdc.gov/natality.html.

  22. Rasmussen, F., Oldenburg, C. E., Ericson, A., & Gunnarskog, J. (1995). Preterm birth and low birthweight among children of Swedish and immigrant women between 1978 and 1990. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 9(4), 441–454.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Zeitlin, J., Blondel, B., & Ananth, C. V. (2014). Characteristics of childbearing women, obstetrical interventions and preterm delivery: A comparison of the US and France. Maternal Child Health Journal, 19(5), 1107–1114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wong, L. F., Caughey, A. B., Nakagawa, S., Kaimal, A. J., Tran, S. H., & Cheng, Y. W. (2008). Perinatal outcomes among different Asian-American subgroups. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 199(4), 382.e1-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Crimmins, E., Kim, J., Alley, D., Karlamangla, A., & Seeman, T. (2007). Hispanic paradox in biological risk profiles. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 1305–1310.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Norman, P., Boyle, P., & Rees, P. (2005). Selective migration, health and deprivation: A longitudinal analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 60(12), 2755–2771.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. UN Data: A world of information. (2015). Country profiles. https://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=United%20States%20of%20America.

  28. Alvarado, M., Refugee Health Services Coordination Project. (2009). Community Health Foundation of Western and Central NY. www.hfwcny.org/Tools/BroadCaster/Upload/Project67/Docs/Refugee_Health_Services_Coordination_Project_Report.pdf.

  29. Wojtowycz, M., & Parker, P. Syracuse healthy start evaluation—2011. http://www.upstate.edu/obgyn/outreach/cmatch/pdf/shs_evaluation_2011.pdf.

  30. MacDuff, S., Grodin, M. A., & Gardiner, P. (2011). The use of complementary and alternative medicine among refugees: A systematic review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 13, 585–599.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Eisenbruch, M. (1991). From post-traumatic stress disorder to cultural bereavement: Diagnosis of Southeast Asian refugees. Social Science and Medicine, 33, 673–680.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Legal Momentum, & Morgan Lewis, LLP. Pre-natal care for qualified and non-qualified immigrants. http://niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu/public-benefits/health-care/4-_PreNatal%20Care%20for%20Qualified%20and%20Non-Qualified%20Aliens%20-all%20states.pdf.

  33. Jentsch, B., Durham, R., Hundley, V., & Hussein, J. (2007). Creating consumer satisfaction in maternity care: The neglected needs of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Intetnational Journal of Consumer Studies, 31, 128–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Santiago, M. C. F., & Figueiredo, M. H. (2015). Immigrant women’s perspective on prenatal and postpartum care: Systematic review. J Immigrant and Minority Health, 17, 276–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Betancourt, G. S., Colarossi, L., & Perez, L. (2013). Factors associated with sexual and reproductive health care by Mexican immigrant women in New York City: A mixed method study. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 15, 326–333.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Fleuriet, K. J., & Sunil, T. S. (2014). Perceived social stress, pregnancy-related anxiety, depression and subjective social status among pregnancy Mexican and Mexican American women in South Texas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 25, 546–561.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Bussières, E. L., Tarabulsy, G. M., Pearson, J., Tessier, R., Forest, J. C., & Giguère, Y. (2015). Maternal prenatal stress and infant birth weight and gestational age: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. Developmental Review, 36, 179–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Christians, L. M. (2015). Stress and immune function during pregnancy: An emerging focus in mind-body medicine. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24, 3–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Almeida, J., Molnar, B. E., & Kawachi, I. (2009). Subramanian SV (pp. 1852–1858). Ethnicity and nativity status as determinants of perceived social support: Testing the concept of familism. Soc Sci Med.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Campos, B., Dunkel-Schetter, C., Abdou, C. M., Hobel, C. J., Glynn, L. M., & Sandman, C. A. (2008). Familism, social support, and stress: Positive implications for pregnant Latinas. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 155–162.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Harley, K., & Eskenazi, B. (2006). Time in the United States, social support and health behaviors during pregnancy among women of Mexican descent. Social Science and Medicine, 62, 3048–3061.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Bobiński, R., Mikulska, M., Mojska, H., & Simon, M. (2012). Comparison of the fatty acid composition of maternal blood and cord blood of mothers who delivered healthy full-term babies, preterm babies, and full-term small for gestational age infants. Journal Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 26, 96–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rasmussen, M. A., Maslova, E., Halldorsson, T. I., & Olsen, S. F. (2014). Characterization of dietary patterns in the Danish National Birth Cohort in relation to preterm birth. PLoS One,. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093644.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Englund-Ögge, L., Brantsæter, A. L., Sengpiel, V., Haugen, M., Birgisdottir, B. E., Myhre, R., et al. (2014). Maternal dietary patterns and preterm delivery: Results from large prospective cohort study. BMJ. doi:10.1136/bmj.g1446.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Guendelman, S., & English, P. B. (1995). Effect of United States residence on birth outcomes among Mexican immigrants: An exploratory study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 142(9), S30–S38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Collins, J. W., Wu, S. Y., & David, R. J. (2002). Differing intergenerational birth weights among the descendants of US-born and foreign-born Whites and African Americans in Illinois. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155, 210–216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH and Rebecca Schultz, MPH of the Onondaga County Health Department for access to the electronic birth records used in this study. We also thank Dr. Morrow and Martha Wojtowycz, Ph.D. for comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Lauren S. Miller

  2. Department of Geography, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Jonnell Allen Robinson

  3. Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Donald A. Cibula

Authors
  1. Lauren S. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonnell Allen Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Donald A. Cibula
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald A. Cibula.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miller, L.S., Robinson, J.A. & Cibula, D.A. Healthy Immigrant Effect: Preterm Births Among Immigrants and Refugees in Syracuse, NY. Matern Child Health J 20, 484–493 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1846-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1846-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation