Higher Mortality Rate Among Infants of US-Born Mothers Compared to Foreign-Born Mothers in New York City

Abstract

This study is to compare infant mortality rates (IMRs) between US- and foreign-born mothers in New York City. The linked live birth-infant death records from 1995 to 1998 were analyzed. Overall US-born mothers had a higher IMR than foreign-born mothers, though there were great variations in IMRs by country of maternal birth among foreign-born mothers. US-born mothers had higher IMRs compared to foreign-born mothers for several maternal/infant characteristics. Logistic regression analyses indicated that infants of foreign-born mothers were less likely to die from prematurity, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and external causes, but were more likely to die of congenital anomalies than those of US-born mothers. Further analyses on the interactions of maternal race/ethnicity and country of birth showed variations in the IMRs of leading causes of death. Infant mortality reduction strategies should be differentially targeted to minority mothers of different countries of birth, particularly for potentially preventable causes of deaths.