Disproportionate Sterilization of Latinos Under California's Eugenic Sterilization Program, 1920-1945.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To compare population-based sterilization rates between Latinas/os and non-Latinas/os sterilized under California's eugenics law.

Methods

We used data from 17 362 forms recommending institutionalized patients for sterilization between 1920 and 1945. We abstracted patient gender, age, and institution of residence into a data set. We extracted data on institution populations from US Census microdata from 1920, 1930, and 1940 and interpolated between census years. We used Spanish surnames to identify Latinas/os in the absence of data on race/ethnicity. We used Poisson regression with a random effect for each patient's institution of residence to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and compare sterilization rates between Latinas/os and non-Latinas/os, stratifying on

SUBMITTER: Novak NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5888070 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature