Are birth defects among Hispanics related to maternal nativity or number of years lived in the United States?
Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol
; 85(9): 755-63, 2009 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19350653
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Literature on the risk of birth defects among foreign- versus U.S.-born Hispanics is limited or inconsistent. We examined the association between country of birth, immigration patterns, and birth defects among Hispanic mothers.METHODS:
We used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals and assessed the relationship between mothers' country of birth, years lived in the United States, and birth defects among 575 foreign-born compared to 539 U.S.-born Hispanic mothers.RESULTS:
Hispanic mothers born in Mexico/Central America were more likely to deliver babies with spina bifida (OR = 1.53) than their U.S.-born counterparts. Also, mothers born in Mexico/Central America or who were recent United States immigrants (< or =5 years) were less likely to deliver babies with all atrial septal defects combined, all septal defects combined, or atrial septal defect, secundum type. However, Hispanic foreign-born mothers who lived in the United States for >5 years were more likely to deliver babies with all neural tube defects combined (OR = 1.42), spina bifida (OR = 1.89), and longitudinal limb defects (OR = 2.34). Foreign-born mothers, regardless of their number of years lived in the United States, were more likely to deliver babies with anotia or microtia.CONCLUSIONS:
Depending on the type of birth defect, foreign-born Hispanic mothers might be at higher or lower risk of delivering babies with the defects. The differences might reflect variations in predisposition, cultural norms, behavioral characteristics, and/or ascertainment of the birth defects.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Congenital Abnormalities
/
Hispanic or Latino
/
Residence Characteristics
/
Maternal Exposure
/
Emigration and Immigration
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America central
/
Mexico
Language:
En
Journal:
Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States