PREDICTORS OF DIFFERENTIAL BIRTH OUTCOMES AMONG HISPANIC SUBGROUPS INTHE UNITED-STATES - THE ROLE OF MATERNAL RISK CHARACTERISTICS AND MEDICAL-CARE

Objective. Prior research has identified a number of barriers to healt h access for Hispanics, including socioeconomic factors, language and cultural differences, and constraints on access. Yet, despite these pr oblems, Hispanic health as reflected in low birthweight and infant mor tality rates compares favorably with more socioeconomically advantaged groups. The purpose of this research is to provide additional underst anding of why this occurs. Methods. This issue is addressed by using n ational linked birth/infant death records to assess the influence of a set of sociodemographic and medical care variables on prematurity, lo w birthweight, and mortality for five Hispanic subgroups: Cubans, Mexi cans, Puerto Ricans, Central/South Americans, and others. Results. His panic subgroups differ significantly on these measures of suboptimal b irth outcomes. The most consistent finding relates to the relatively a dvantaged position of Cuban Americans and the relatively disadvantaged position of Puerto Ricans. Multivariate models indicate that while so me of these differences are due, in part, to sociodemographic profiles , important differences remain even when controlling for these factors . Conclusions. These findings suggest that the groups require separate treatment in future research both because of differences in outcomes and because the predictors of those outcomes vary from one group to an other.