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. 2001 Nov;91(11):1808-14.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.91.11.1808.

The relationship of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics to birthweight among 5 ethnic groups in California

M Pearl  1 , P Braveman, B Abrams
Affiliations

The relationship of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics to birthweight among 5 ethnic groups in California

M Pearl et al. Am J Public Health. 2001 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to examine relationships between neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and birthweight, accounting for individual socioeconomic characteristics, among 5 ethnic groups.

Methods: Birth records were linked to census block-group data for 22 304 women delivering infants at 18 California hospitals during 1994-1995. Information on income and additional factors was obtained from a surveyed subset of 8457 women. Neighborhood levels of poverty, unemployment, and education were examined.

Results: After adjustment for mothers' individual socioeconomic characteristics and other risk factors, less-favorable neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were associated with lower birthweight among Blacks and Asians. No consistent relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and birthweight was found among Whites, US-born Latinas, or foreign-born Latinas overall, but birthweight increased with less-favorable neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics among foreign-born Latinas in high-poverty or high-unemployment neighborhoods. These findings were not explained by measured behavioral or cultural factors.

Conclusions: In addition to individual socioeconomic characteristics, living in neighborhoods that are less socioeconomically advantaged may differentially influence birthweight, depending on women's ethnicity and nativity.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Relationship of birthweight to neighborhood unemployment among Blacks and Asians in the overall sample, after adjustment for Medi-Cal and mother's education.
FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Relationship of birthweight to neighborhood unemployment among Blacks and Asians in the overall sample, after adjustment for Medi-Cal and mother's education.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Relationship of birthweight to neighborhood poverty and unemployment among foreign-born Latinas in overall sample, after adjustment for Medi-Cal and mother's education.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Relationship of birthweight to neighborhood poverty and unemployment among foreign-born Latinas in overall sample, after adjustment for Medi-Cal and mother's education.
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