ACCULTURATION AND LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS AMONG LATINO WOMEN - A REANALYSIS OF HHANES DATA WITH STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELS

Previous studies have demonstrated that acculturation is associated wi th negative birth outcomes among mothers in numerous immigrant populat ions, including Latinas. This study used structural equation models to reanalyze data employed in the 1989 Scribner and Dwyer study on the e ffect of acculturation (measured through the Cuellar scale) on mothers ' low-birthweight status. Data revealed that language components domin ate the effects of acculturation on low-birthweight status. Acculturat ion appears to affect low-birthweight status indirectly through smokin g and dietary intake but not through parity. acculturation has a persi stent direct effect on low-birthweight status, suggesting that other i ntervening variables are operant.