Revisiting the Role of Acculturation and Selection: Infant Low Birth Weight among Hispanics

• In Event: 038 - Section on Sociology of Population Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Sociology of Population Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01.Health and Education among Hispanics

Abstract

Abstract:
Studies on the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) in the United States have shown favorable birth outcomes for Hispanics relative to other racial/ethnic groups. Positive health selection and protective cultural orientation are possible mechanisms of this phenomenon, which has been termed the Hispanic paradox. Our primary purpose is to revisit each explanation by arguing that the impact of selection and health behaviors of origin may differ for Hispanic women according to their ages at migration. Data are drawn from National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) Cycles 2002 and 2006-2010. Our analytic sample includes all live births born to non-Hispanic (NH) whites (n=10,045), NH blacks (n=5,528), U.S.-born Latinas (n=2,587) and foreign-born Latinas (n=2,743) aged 20 and older. Logistic regression modeling is used to estimate the relative risk of LBW for NH white mothers. In support of the paradox explanation, results suggest that infants born to foreign-born Hispanic mothers are at a lower risk of LBW compared to those born to NH white mothers. However, this advantage is not observed in Hispanic women who immigrated to the U.S. at age 20 or older. Our findings also suggest that the positive health impact of acculturation on second-generation Hispanic infants is stronger when mothers migrate before age 19. These findings suggest that future research on LBW and other health indicators should consider heterogeneity by age of migration when applying the health selection and acculturation explanations.

Authors

• Daesung Choi, University of Texas-San Antonio

• Jeannie M. Hahl, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor