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The association of maternal country/region of origin and nativity with infant mortality rate among Hispanic preterm infants

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Abstract

Objectives

Among US-born preterm infants of Hispanic mothers, we analyzed the unadjusted and adjusted infant mortality rate (IMR) by country/region of origin and maternal nativity status.

Study design

Using linked national US birth and death certificate data (2005–2014), we examined preterm infants of Hispanic mothers by subgroup and nativity. Clinical and sociodemographic covariates were included and the main outcome was death in the first year of life.

Results

In our cohort of 891,216 preterm Hispanic infants, we demonstrated different rates of infant mortality by country and region of origin, but no difference between infants of Hispanic mothers who were US vs. foreign-born.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need to disaggregate the heterogenous Hispanic birthing population into regional and national origin groups to better understand unique factors associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in order to develop more targeted interventions for these subgroups.

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Fig. 1: Cohort Selection.
Fig. 2: Adjusted odds ratios for preterm infant mortality for foreign-born mothers of the overall Hispanic population and each subgroup, compared to US-born mothers of the overall Hispanic population or each subgroup.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA

    Kathleen E. Hannan, Stephanie L. Bourque & Sunah S. Hwang

  2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Molly Passarella, Joshua Radack, Brielle Formanowski & Scott A. Lorch

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  1. Kathleen E. Hannan
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  2. Stephanie L. Bourque
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  6. Scott A. Lorch
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  7. Sunah S. Hwang
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Contributions

KH designed the study, oversaw the analysis, and wrote the manuscript. MP, JR, and BF provided guidance on study design, conducted the statistical analysis, and were involved with writing and reviewing the manuscript. SB, SL, and SH provided guidance and feedback for study design and analysis and were involved with writing, editing, and reviewing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kathleen E. Hannan.

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Hannan, K.E., Bourque, S.L., Passarella, M. et al. The association of maternal country/region of origin and nativity with infant mortality rate among Hispanic preterm infants. J Perinatol 44, 179–186 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01875-w

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