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. 2002 Dec;92(12):1976-81.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.12.1976.

The correspondence between interracial births and multiple-race reporting

Jennifer D Parker  1 , Jennifer H Madans
Affiliations

The correspondence between interracial births and multiple-race reporting

Jennifer D Parker et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: Race-specific health statistics are routinely reported in scientific publications; most describe health disparities across groups. Census 2000 showed that 2.4% of the US population identifies with more than 1 race group. We examined the hypothesis that multiple-race reporting is associated with interracial births by comparing parental race reported on birth certificates with reported race in a national health survey.

Methods: US natality data from 1968 through 1998 and National Health Interview Survey data from 1990 through 1998 were compared, by year of birth.

Results: Overall multiple-race survey responses correspond to expectations from interracial births. However, there are discrepancies for specific multiple-race combinations.

Conclusions: Projected estimates of the multiple-race population can be only partially informed by vital records.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
—Percentage of multiple-race responses in the National Health Interview Survey, overall and for respondents aged 30 years or younger, by survey year.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
—Percentage of multiple-race responses (National Health Interview Survey) or interracial births (natality files), by year of birth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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