Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in US-Born and Non–US-Born Black Pregnant People
Author Information
Author(s): Jiles Mariah MPH, Prata Ndola MD MSc, Harley Kim G. PhD
Primary Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Hypothesis
US-born Black populations experience more maternal morbidities than non–US-born Black populations in the US.
Conclusion
US-born Black pregnant people have lower odds of maternal morbidity but higher odds of adverse infant health outcomes compared to non–US-born Black individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- US-born Black individuals had a lower prevalence of maternal morbidity compared to non–US-born individuals.
- US-born Black mothers had higher odds of low birthweight and preterm birth.
- Non–US-born Black individuals had higher odds of experiencing maternal morbidities.
Takeaway
This study found that Black mothers born in the US are less likely to have serious health problems during pregnancy than those born outside the US, but they are more likely to have babies that are born too small or too early.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2021 National Vital Statistics Systems Natality Data, focusing on births to Black mothers.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include inaccuracies in birth certificate data and the inability to account for individual circumstances of immigration.
Limitations
The study was limited to five monitored maternal morbidities and could not assess the time non–US-born individuals spent in the US or potential language barriers.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were aged 20 to 34 years, with a significant portion being unmarried and utilizing Medicaid for delivery.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.67
Confidence Interval
0.62-0.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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