Background Black children present more health problems than white children,
but little information is available from less developed countries. Ethnic
inequalities may vary according to country, and studies: from developing co
untries are needed to evaluate possible differentials and their magnitude,
and identify social and health interventions..
Methods Birth cohort study in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Information collect
ed during the perinatal period in hospitals, and at home at 1, 3, 6 and 12
months of age. In all, 5305 children were studied at birth, 96.8% of the sa
mple of 1461 at 6 months, and 93.4% of this sample at 12 months of age.
Results Of the children, 28% were African Brazilian. Socioeconomic position
was lower among families of black children, and mothers presented a number
of unfavourable characteristics. Black children presented higher prevalenc
es of low birthweight (LBW), preterm and small-for-gestational age (SGA), w
ere less often immunized, had more deficits of weight-for-age and height-fo
r-age, and higher early neonatal and infant mortality. When a number of cov
ariates, including antenatal care, were added to a multiple regression anal
ysis the odds ratios were markedly reduced, but there was still a clear tre
nd towards worse results for black children. Black mothers had some aspects
of antenatal care of lower quality and were submitted less frequently to c
aesarean sections and episiotomies.
Conclusions Black infants experienced a much worse health status than white
infants. Socioeconomic and other variables played a major role in determin
ing inequalities between these ethnic groups. Antenatal care was especially
important in explaining differentials in risk between black and white chil
dren.