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Perinatal Outcomes Among Foreign-Born and US-Born Chinese Americans, 1995–2000

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Abstract

This paper examines nativity differences in adverse perinatal outcomes of Chinese-American mothers. Singleton live births to US-resident Chinese women (150,620 foreign-born, 15,040 US-born) and a random sample of 150,620 non-Hispanic White mothers were selected from 1995 to 2000 national linked birth/infant death certificate files. Associations between maternal nativity status and adverse perinatal outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regressions. Compared to US-born Chinese mothers, foreign-born Chinese mothers were less likely to be unmarried, teen mothers, have a non-Hispanic White or other race partner, be rural residents, and more likely to be less educated, or utilize prenatal care inadequately. Controlling for these factors, foreign-born Chinese-American mothers had significantly lower risks for low birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational age, whereas risks for infant mortality, neonatal mortality, and post-neonatal mortality did not differ significantly from those of infants of US-born Chinese mothers. Chinese Americans exhibited clear nativity differentials for adverse birth outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance to the early draft from Sean-Shong Hwang. Preliminary findings from this study were presented at the 8th Annual MCH Epidemiology Conference, Tampa, Florida, November, 2002, and at the First International Beijing Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing International Conference Center, October, 2005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 320 Ryals Building, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Qing Li & Russell S. Kirby

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Louis G. Keith

Authors
  1. Qing Li
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  2. Louis G. Keith
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  3. Russell S. Kirby
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Correspondence to Qing Li.

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Contributors

Q. Li originated the study, carried out the analysis, wrote the article, and completed the revision. R. S. Kirby and L. G. Keith contributed to the design, data analysis and interpretation, and the overall revisions.

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Li, Q., Keith, L.G. & Kirby, R.S. Perinatal Outcomes Among Foreign-Born and US-Born Chinese Americans, 1995–2000. J Immigrant Minority Health 12, 282–289 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9191-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9191-x

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