Studies examining various ethnic minority populations have demonstrated an "epidemiological paradox" of better health and pregnancy outcomes among minority groups who would be considered at high risk due to their disadvantaged socioeconomic status. This phenomenon has most often been discussed with reference to the Mexican origin population, which is composed by a significant proportion of foreign-born mothers. In fact, immigrant mothers of all of the eleven largest ethnic groups in the U.S. demonstrate better infant health outcomes than their native-born peers. However, it is not clear if the infants of immigrant mothers retain this comparative health advantage into and throughout childhood. The purpose of this study is to describe the health status of the children of immigrants, paying particular attention to the effects of maternal nativity and level of maternal acculturation, and to assess whether race/ethnic differences in child health remain, controlling for socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, and environmental conditions. The 1997 National Health Interview Survey is used to examine children's health status, measured by qualitative parental assessments, the number of physician visits, the number of visits to the emergency room, the presence of chronic conditions and if the child has been taking a prescription medication for more than three months. Multinomial, multiple logistic and Poisson regression techniques are used as appropriate to assess the effects of a number of socio-demographic, economic, cultural and environmental predictors of child health.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to describe the health status of the children of immigrants to the United States and to identify whether health advantages at birth in infants with foreign-born mothers are retained throughout childhood
Keywords: Child Health, Immigrants
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.