VARIATIONS IN PREGNANCY OUTCOMES BY RACE AMONG 10-14-YEAR-OLD MOTHERSIN THE UNITED-STATES

This study used the 1983-86 U.S. Linked Live Birth-Infant Death Files to examine variations in pregnancy outcomes among 38,551 U.S. resident black and white adolescents ages 10 through 14. The birth rate was 4. 29 per 1,000 for blacks, more than 7 times the rate for whites (.59 pe r 1,000). Black mothers had higher proportions of very low and low bir th weight infants than did whites (very low birth weight: 3.7 versus 2 .6; low birth weight: 15.0 versus 10.5). Neonatal and infant mortality rates were higher among very low birth weight and low birth weight wh ite infants. Neonatal and infant mortality rates were similar for norm al birth weight infants of both races, but were 3.7 to 7.4 times highe r among black infants with birth weights more than 4,250 grams. Logist ic regression indicated that black mothers were at higher risk for hav ing infants who we low birth weight, very low birth weight, small for gestational age, preterm, and very preterm. There were no differences by race for neonatal, postneonatal, and infant mortality. While the ri sk for poor pregnancy outcomes is great among young adolescents, young black adolescents appear to be particularly vulnerable. Attempts to r educe unintended pregnancies in this group should receive highest prio rity.