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Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Korean Women Compared to White Women in the United States

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Abstract

To evaluate the risk of adverse birth outcomes among US- and foreign-born Korean women compared to US-born white women, we used the 2004 US natality file to assess the risk of low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery (PTD), and cesarean delivery (CD) among US-born (N = 943) and foreign-born Koreans (N = 11,974) compared to white women (N = 25,834). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using regression models to assess the risk of these outcomes. US-born (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.43–1.02) and foreign-born Korean women (aOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.70–1.06) exhibited a lowered risk of LBW than white women, although not statistically significant. The risks of PTD and CD among Korean women were similar to white women, regardless of Korean women’s nativity status. Future research should focus on identifying the cultural factors and practices associated with decreased risk of LBW among Korean women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington School of Public Health and School of Nursing, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Jane D. Yi

  2. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, 325 ninth avenue, 359960, Seattle, WA, 98104-1549, USA

    Melissa A. Schiff

  3. University of Washington School of Nursing, 900 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Doris Boutain

Authors
  1. Jane D. Yi
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  2. Melissa A. Schiff
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  3. Doris Boutain
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Correspondence to Jane D. Yi.

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Yi, J.D., Schiff, M.A. & Boutain, D. Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Korean Women Compared to White Women in the United States. Matern Child Health J 16, 760–766 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0802-0

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