Intergenerational Change in Birthweight: Effects of Foreign-born Status and Race/Ethnicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Foreign-born women have heavier infants than US-born women, but it is unclear whether this advantage persists across generations for all races and ethnicities.

Methods

Using 1971-2015 Florida birth records, we linked records of female infants within families to assess intergenerational changes in birthweight and prevalence of low birthweight by grandmother's race/ethnicity and foreign-born status. We also assessed educational gradients in low birthweight in two generations.

Results

Compared with daughters of US-born black women, daughters of foreign-born black women had substantially higher birthweights (3,199 vs. 3,083 g) and lower prevalence of low birthweight (7.8% vs. 11.8%). Daughters of foreign-born Hispanic women had moderately higher birthweights (3

SUBMITTER: Andrasfay T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7386866 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature