INFANTS OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS - HEALTH-STATUS OF AN EMERGING POPULATION

Previous studies suggest that infants of Mexican immigrants have favor able birth outcomes despite their high socioeconomic risks. These favo rable outcomes have been associated with a protective sociocultural or ientation among immigrants. A sample of 708 infants of Mexican origin was assessed to determine whether such health advantages at birth are sustained at 8 to 16 months of age, or alternatively, whether their he alth deteriorates because of adverse socioeconomic conditions. A a cro ss-sectional survey was conducted in San Diego County to determine whe ther the child was healthy or ill (the latter indicating a history of serious infectious disease) and the factors associated with this outco me. Among infants born without serious medical problems, 74% remained healthy. For 26% of the infants, their health status was eroded by soc ial conditions. Factors associated with illness were large households, barriers to care, and maternal characteristics including smoking, pre gnancy complications, and employment. Women born in Mexico who were ne wcomers to the United States and spoke Spanish exclusively were more l ikely than non-newcomers to have ill children. In this population, one fourth of Latino infants of immigrants were at high risk for serious infectious disease despite using preventive care.