Pregnancy outcomes of US-born and foreign-born Japanese Americans

G.R. Alexander, J.M. Mor, M.D. Kogan, N.L. Leland and E. Kieffer

American Journal of Public Health, 1996, vol. 86, issue 6, 820-824

Abstract: Objectives. This study investigated the birth outcomes of Japanese Americans, focusing on the role of the mother's place of birth. Methods. Single live births to US-resident Japanese American mothers (n = 37 941) were selected from the 1983 through 1987 US linked live birth-infant death files. Results. US-born mothers were more likely than foreign-born mothers to be less than 18 years old and not married, to start prenatal care early, and to more adequately use prenatal care. Infants of foreign-born Japanese Americans had a slightly lower risk of low birthweight. No significant differences were found between nativity groups for very low birthweight or neonatal, postneonatal, and infant mortality. The mortality rates of infants of US- born (6.2) and foreign-born (5.4) Japanese American women were below the US Year 2000 objective but still exceeded Japan's 1990 rate (4.6). However, low- birthweight percentages of the US-born group (5.7%) and the foreign-born group (5.0%) were similar to that of Japan (5.5%). Conclusions. The infants of foreign-born Japanese-American women exhibited modestly better low- birthweight percentages than those of US-born Japanese Americans. This finding supports theories of the healthy immigrant.

Date: 1996
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1996:86:6:820-824_3

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().