Explaining the Low Risk of Preterm Birth Among Arab Americans in the United States: An Analysis of 617451 Births

Self Cite

Arab ethnicity (AE) mothers have lower preterm birth (PTB) risk than white mothers. Little is known about the determinants of PTB among AE women or the role of interethnic mating in shaping PTB risk among this group. We assessed the relationship between interethnic mating and risk for PTB, very PTB, and late PTB among AE mothers. Data was collected for all births (N = 21,621) to AE women in Michigan between 2000 and 2005. Self-reported ancestry was used to determine paternal AE as well as to identify AE mothers. We used bivariate chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression to assess the relationship between paternal non-AE and risk for PTB, very PTB, and late PTB among AE mothers. All analyses were also conducted among nonArab white mothers as a control. Among AE mothers, paternal non-Arab ethnicity was associated with higher risk of PTB (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.30) and late PTB (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.38) compared to paternal Arab ethnicity. Paternal non-Arab ethnicity was not associated with risk for any outcome among non-Arab white mothers. Future studies could assess the causal mechanisms underlying the association between interethnic mating and risk for PTB.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interethnic mating and risk for preterm birth among Arab-American mothers: Evidence from the Arab-American Birth Outcomes Study

El-Sayed

Galea

2010

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“…In Québec, where 96% of Haitians in Canada are found [4], there has been an effort to document cardiovascular and infectious disease risk factors [29,30]. A larger body of evidence has documented perinatal health inequalities for US ethnic groups especially Blacks and Hispanics [31][32][33][34][35], but also for other minorities including Arabs and native populations [36,37]. Findings tend to vary across ethnic groups, with US Blacks having the poorest outcomes [32] and Arabs relatively favourable outcomes relative to non-Hispanic Whites [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rising Disparities in Severe Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Haitians in Québec, Canada, 1981–2006

Auger

Chery

Daniel

2011

Perinatal health data for Haitians are scant. We evaluated adverse birth outcomes for Haitians in Québec, Canada. We analyzed 2,124,909 live births from 1981 to 2006. Haitian ethnicity was assessed using maternal birth country (Haiti, other Caribbean country, other foreign country, Canada) and home language (Creole, French/English but Creole mother tongue, French/English, other). Associations between ethnicity and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth were calculated. Adverse birth outcomes were more common among mothers with Haitian ethnicity. Relative to Canadian-born mothers, odds for Haitian-born mothers were 4 times greater for extreme PTB (≤27 weeks), twice greater for very PTB (28-31 weeks), and 25% higher for moderate PTB (32-36 weeks). Patterns were similar for SGA birth and severe cases of LBW. Despite overall decreases LBW and SGA birth, relative and absolute inequalities increased over time. Perinatal health inequalities are increasing for Haitian-born mothers.

“…Several studies have demonstrated lower risk for adverse birth outcomes among foreign-born relative to native-born mothers among several ethnic and racial groups, including Blacks [11,22], Hispanics [23][24][25][26], Asian subgroups [11,26], and Arab-Americans [8,9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The predictors of adverse birth outcomes may differ between native and foreign-born mothers in the US [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal Care and Risk of Preterm Birth Among Foreign and US-Born Mothers in Michigan

El-Sayed

Galea

2011

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Studies among ethnic minorities suggest that prenatal care (PNC) may be less protective against preterm birth (PTB) among foreign-born relative to US-born mothers. We assessed relations between nativity, PNC inadequacy, and PTB risk over 17 years in one US state. Adjusted multivariable models were fit to assess the potential interaction between nativity and PNC inadequacy as a determinant of PTB. Additionally, we calculated predicted probabilities of PTB by PNC inadequacy, stratified by nativity. In adjusted models of PTB, there was a significant interaction (P (interaction) < 0.01) between nativity and PNC inadequacy. US-born mothers who did not use PNC adequately had 2.9% higher predicted probability of PTB than adequate users, which compares to 1.9% difference among foreign-born mothers. While adequate PNC use was lower among foreign-born compared to native born mothers, when accessed, PNC use may be less protective against PTB among foreign-born mothers relative to native-born mothers. Differences in cultural health traditions during pregnancy, or baseline health status between foreign and native-born mothers may mediate our findings.