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Race/ethnic differentials in heavy weight and cesarean births

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Abstract

Objectives: The general objectives of this research are tofurther our understanding of the distribution and incidence of heavy weight births and to examine differentials in the use of cesarean section as a response to macrosomia in models that are more broadly comparative by race/ethnicity than any that have heretofore been estimated. Methods: The data are drawn from the combined 1989–1991 NCHS Linked Birth/Infant Death Cohort Files,a data set of over 12 million live births and over 100,000 infant deaths that allows for highly reliable estimations for relatively small race/ethnic sub populations. Results: The results confirm that previously identified determinants of macrosomia such as maternal diabetes,maternal weight gain, parity and a previous heavy weight infant are highly predictive of a macrosomic birth, independent of race/ethnic effects. With respect to the management of heavy weight births, race/ethnic differentials exist in the odds of a cesarean delivery, theprocedure most often used to limit the risks of a macrosomic delivery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Population Research Center and Department of Sociology, The University of Texas, Austin, USA

    Reanne Frank & W. Parker Frisbie

  2. The Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA

    Starling G. Pullum

Authors
  1. Reanne Frank
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  2. W. Parker Frisbie
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  3. Starling G. Pullum
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Frank, R., Frisbie, W.P. & Pullum, S.G. Race/ethnic differentials in heavy weight and cesarean births. Population Research and Policy Review 19, 459–475 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010656522963

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