US-born Latinas Research Articles

What Do Your Neighbors Think About You? How Perceived Neighbor Attitudes Toward Latinos Influence Mental Health Among a Pregnant Latina Cohort

Latina women living in the USA experience disproportionately higher rates of psychological distress compared to their non-Latina White counterparts. Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy can contribute to intergenerational mental health disparities. Through this pathway, mothers’ experiences, environments, and exposures (henceforth “exposures”) during pregnancy become biologically embodied and can negatively affect the fetus and life-long developmental trajectories of her child. One of the exposures that can affect mother–offspring dyads is the neighborhood. With the goal of integrating anthropological and sociological theories to explain mental health disparities among pregnant Latina women, we explored how perceptions of neighbor attitudes may influence mental health during pregnancy. We analyzed self-reported responses from 239 pregnant Latina women in Southern California (131 foreign-born, 108 US-born) on their mental health and perceived attitudes of their neighbors using multiple linear regression models. Among foreign-born Latina women, living in neighborhoods with more favorable views of Latinos was associated with lower depression scores (pooled β = − .70, SE = .29, p = .019) and lower pregnancy-related anxiety scores (pooled β = − .11, SE = .05, p = .021), but greater state anxiety scores (pooled β = .09, SE = .04, p = .021). Among US-born women, there were no associations between neighbor attitudes and mental health. Overall, results suggest that social environments are correlated with mental health and that foreign-born and US-born Latinas have varied mental health experiences in the USA. Our findings highlight the importance of improving aspects of neighborhood cohesion as part of maternal–fetal care management.

A Cancer Health Needs Assessment Reveals Important Differences Between US-Born and Foreign-Born Latinos in California.

BackgroundCancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos, the largest minority population in the United States (US). To address cancer challenges experienced by Latinos, we conducted a catchment area population assessment (CAPA) using validated questions from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) population health assessment supplement at our NCI-designated cancer center in California.MethodsA mixed-methods CAPA was administered by bilingual-bicultural staff, with a focus on understanding the differences between foreign-born and US-born Latinos.Results255 Latinos responded to the survey conducted between August 2019 and May 2020. Most respondents were foreign-born (63.9%), female (78.2%), and monolingual Spanish speakers (63.2%). Results showed that compared to US-born Latinos, foreign-born individuals were older, had lower educational attainment, were most likely to be monolingual Spanish speakers, were low-income, and were more likely to be uninsured. Foreign-born Latinos had lower levels of alcohol consumption and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. The rate of preventive cancer screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer did not differ by birthplace, although a low fraction (35.3%) of foreign-born Latinas who were up-to-date compared to US-born Latinas (83.3%) with colorectal cancer screening was observed. Time since the last routine check-up for all preventable cancers (cervical p=0.0002, breast p=0.0039, and colorectal p=0.0196) is significantly associated with being up to date with cancer screening. Individuals who had a check-up of two or more years ago are 84% less likely to be up to date with pap smears than those who had a check-up within the year (p=0.0060). Individuals without health insurance are 94% less likely to be up to date with mammograms and colonoscopy/FIT tests (p=0.0016 and p=0.0133, respectively) than those who are insured. There is no significant association between screening and nativity.ConclusionsConsiderable differences in socio-economic and environmental determinants of health and colorectal cancer screening rates were observed between US-born and foreign-born Latinos. The present study represents the foundation for future targeted intervention among immigrant populations at our cancer center’s catchment area.

Young adult US-born Latina women’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs about unintended pregnancy

Current measures of unintended pregnancy underestimate the co-occurring, complex set of social, cultural, economic and structural factors that influence how women interpret unintended pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to prospectively explore young adult US-born Latinas’ thoughts, feelings and beliefs about pregnancy, specifically unintended pregnancies and the sociocultural factors identified as contributors to those beliefs. In-depth interviews (n = 20) were conducted with US-born, English-speaking Latinas aged 18–25 years in south Florida. Seventeen participants did not intend to get pregnant, while the remaining participants (n = 3) reported that their intentions kept changing. Participants’ beliefs regarding their unintended pregnancy were influenced by social and economic hardship and cultural factors such as fatalism and familismo. Ideas and the meaning of pregnancy differed based on the woman’s pregnancy resolution decision. Many women felt the term ‘unintended pregnancy’ placed blame on women and was stigmatising. When discussing pregnancy planning, most participants felt that women should not plan their pregnancies and doing so was going against fate. Findings suggest that salient influences such as culture and the social determinants related to unintended pregnancy should be incorporated into measurements examining unintended pregnancy.

Http://scholarship.claremont.edu/jhm/vol8/iss2/7/

Hispanic Americans make up 15% of the current US workforce, but they only account for 7% of the STEM Education workforce [8]. One effective way to reach this population, particularly Latinas, is by providing stories and ethnographic biographies of successful Latinas they can relate to. It is important to note that Latinas have been earning PhDs in STEM disciplines outside of the US much longer than US-born Latinas have been earning them inside. Thus we offer the story of a mathematics educator, from Peru, Dr. Luz Antonia Mendizábal Gálvez de Rodriguez, a girl who was given a chance to be educated, and whose education opened doors for her and for those she influenced. She earned her PhD in Mathematics Education while raising eight children and working full time and later in life became the school superintendent in Lima, awarded a prestigious national award for her teaching and service. Through a narrative that is part biography and part duoethnography, we chronicle milestones in her journey and explore the intersections of her life with the lives of two other US-born mathematics educators, ourselves. We conclude with some thoughts on revising the storyline by presenting new narratives to empower our communities.

Examining HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born and immigrant hispanics and US-born and immigrant non-Hispanic Blacks: a preliminary catchment area study.

Disparities in HPV vaccination exist. Therefore, we investigated the distinction and disparities in HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born African Americans (AA) and Black immigrants, and between US-born Latinas and Latina immigrants. Secondary data analyses were conducted with 383 female adults divided into non-Hispanic Blacks-(1) AA born in the US (n = 129) and (2) Black immigrants (n = 53), and Hispanics-(3) Latinas born in the US (n = 57) and (4) Latina immigrants (n = 144). HPV-related cognitions are assessed by measuring HPV-related knowledge and HPV vaccine-related awareness, beliefs, accessibility, and acceptability. Black and Latina immigrants were less likely to know where they can get/refer for HPV vaccine (p = .007) than their US-born counterparts. Latina immigrants were less likely to have heard of HPV vaccine (p = .033), know where they can get more information about HPV vaccine (p = .045), and know where they can get/refer for HPV vaccine (p = .001) than US-born Latinas. Both immigrant groups (Black: p = .046; Latina: p = .044) were more likely to report cost concerns than their counterparts. US-born AA were the least likely to endorse HPV vaccine safety (31.0%) and efficacy (39.7%), whereas US-born Latinas endorsed efficacy (63.2%) but less safety (44.6%). Overall, vaccine acceptability was low across all groups. Group disparities in HPV vaccine cognitions emerged, but they all had notable HPV vaccine acceptability (safety and efficacy) barriers. HPV vaccine safety and efficacy were highly unfavorable in US-born AA. The HPV vaccine safety concerns are demonstrated with only 31-54% reporting that the "HPV vaccine is safe"-potentially increasing their risk of HPV vaccine negation. With regards to HPV vaccine efficacy, only 40-63% of this study population endorsed HPV vaccine efficacy. Additionally, immigrants reported greater HPV vaccine cost barriers and healthcare access concerns-increasing their risk for HPV vaccine naiveté. Therefore, our findings on HPV vaccine cognitions and acceptability can inform targeted strategies to increase vaccination among US and immigrant Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks who are at elevated risk for HPV-related cancers.

Anticipated Emotions about Unintended Pregnancy in Relationship Context: Are Latinas Really Happier?

This study examined differences in women's anticipated emotional orientations towards unintended pregnancy by relationship status and race/ethnicity. Data from a prospective survey of 437 women aged 18-44 who intended no more children for at least two years were analyzed along with 27 in-depth interviews among a diverse sub-sample. Cohabiting women and women in a romantic relationship not living together were less likely to profess happiness (OR=0.42, p<.05, OR=0.25, p<.01, respectively), even when partners' intentions/feelings were controlled. The most prominent factor underlying negative feelings was partners' anticipated lack of engagement with the emotional, physical, and financial toll of unintended childbearing. Contrary to conventional wisdom regarding the "Hispanic paradox", foreign-born and US-born Latinas were no more likely to profess happiness than non-Hispanic whites or blacks. Moreover, foreign-born Latinas whose survey responses indicated happiness often revealed highly negative feelings at in-depth interview, citing pressure to conform to sociocultural norms surrounding motherhood and abortion.

Social disparities in dietary habits among women: Geographic Research on Wellbeing (GROW) Study.

Relationships among race/ethnicity, individual socio-economic status (SES), neighbourhood SES and acculturation are complex. We sought to answer whether: (i) race/ethnicity, individual SES and neighbourhood SES have independent effects on women's fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC); (ii) SES modifies the effects of race/ethnicity on FVC; and (iii) nativity modifies the effect of Latina ethnicity on FVC. Cross-sectional surveys from the population-based Geographic Research on Wellbeing (GROW) Study were linked with census-tract level data. FVC was indicated by (i) consuming fruits and vegetables less often than daily (LOWFV) and (ii) not having fruits and vegetables in the home very often. Other variables included age, marital status, race/ethnicity, country of birth, educational attainment, family income and longitudinal neighbourhood poverty (based on latent class growth models). Weighted logistic regression models accounting for the complex sample design were constructed. California, USA, 2012-2013. Women (n 2669). In adjusted models, race/ethnicity, education and income were independently associated with FVC, but not neighbourhood poverty. Women of colour, high-school graduates and women with incomes at 301-400 % of the federal poverty level were at higher odds of LOWFV compared with non-Hispanic Whites, college graduates and those with incomes >400 % of the federal poverty level. Little evidence for interactions between race/ethnicity and individual or neighbourhood SES was found; similar patterns were observed for immigrant and US-born Latinas. Addressing the dietary needs of lower-SES communities requires multilevel interventions that simultaneously provide culturally tailored nutrition education and address the physical and economic accessibility of culturally acceptable fruits and vegetables.

Breastfeeding and Asthmatic Symptoms in The Offspring of Latinas: The Role of Maternal Nativity.

Previous research has generally found exclusive breastfeeding to protect against asthma in young children. However, maternal nativity in a Latina population has not been assessed as a potential confounder or effect modifier. Using cross-sectional data restricted to Latina mothers (n = 704) from a birth cohort in Los Angeles interviewed in 2003 and 2006, we estimated risk ratios (RR) for exclusive breastfeeding and asthmatic symptoms in the offspring. 56 children (8%) had asthmatic symptoms at age 3.5 years. We found a 49% reduction in risk of asthmatic symptoms with >3 months of exclusive breastfeeding (aRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28, 0.90). Foreign-born Latinas were more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding for at least 3 months compared with US-born Latinas. Three or more months of exclusive breastfeeding reduced the risk of asthmatic symptoms in the offspring of Latinas, and maternal nativity did not confound or modify this association.

Depressive symptoms of midlife Latinas: effect of immigration and sociodemographic factors.

Immigrant Latinas may have different cultural attitudes toward menopause and aging, and may experience higher levels of distress associated with adaptation to their new environment. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe the frequency of depressive symptoms experienced by premenopausal Latinas (40–50 years of age) living in the United States and compare Latinas born in the US with immigrant Latinas on stress and sociodemographic factors that influence depressive symptom experience. Analysis was conducted on a subsample of 94 self-identified Latinas who participated in a longitudinal study and completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale at enrollment and 6 months. Immigrant Latinas had a significantly higher CES-D (14.4 ± 11.1) than US-born Latinas (10.0 ± 7.9) and the difference remained at 6 months. There was no difference in age, body mass index (BMI), self-report of general health, or perceived stress. Higher BMI, work-related stress, and insufficient income for essential daily needs were associated with depressive symptom scores in immigrant Latinas. High BMI and less education were associated with depressive symptom scores in the US-born Latinas.

The "Latina epidemiologic paradox" revisited: the role of birthplace and acculturation in predicting infant low birth weight for Latinas in Los Angeles, CA.

The "Latina epidemiologic paradox" refers to the observation that despite socioeconomic disadvantages, Latina mothers in the United States (US) have a similar or lower risk for delivering an infant with low birth weight (LBW) compared to non-Latina White mothers. An analogous paradox may exist between foreign-born (FB) and US-born (USB) Latinas. Our goal was to assess differences in LBW in USB Latinas, FB Latinas, and non-Latina Whites in Los Angeles County in 2003 using birth records and survey data. Using logistic regression, we estimated associations between LBW and birthplace/ethnicity in a birth cohort and nested survey responder group and between LBW and acculturation in responders to a follow-up survey. USB Latinas and FB Latinas had a higher prevalence of LBW infants compared to Whites (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = (1.17, 1.53) and OR = 1.32, 95% CI = (1.18, 1.49), respectively); when we adjusted for additional maternal risk factors these point estimates were attenuated, and interval estimates were consistent with a modest positive or inverse association. Among Latinas only, LBW was more common for high-acculturated FB and USB Latinas compared to low-acculturated FB Latinas, and there was limited evidence that environmental or behavior risk factors had less impact in low-acculturated Latinas. In summary, adjusting only for demographics, Latinas in our study were more likely to have LBW infants compared to Whites, in contrast to the Latina paradox hypothesis. Furthermore, adjusting for environmental or behavioral factors attenuated the positive association, but there was little evidence that Latinas had a lower prevalence of LBW regardless of the variables included in the models. Finally, among Latinas, there was limited evidence that associations between known risk factors and LBW were modified by acculturation.

557: Increasing obesity in US-born California Latinas: the end of the hispanic paradox?

To compare US-born versus foreign-born nulliparous California Latinas for their rates of pre-pregnancy obesity and pregnancy outcomes. Nulliparous women represent a more homogeneous population and foreign-born nulliparas are least likely to have had a long residence in the US before delivery. The “Hispanic Paradox” suggests that Latina women have better outcomes than other low SES populations. This could be at jeopardy if US-born Latinas begin to have more obesity and worse outcomes.

Predictors of the Timing of Natural Menopause in the Multiethnic Cohort Study

The timing of natural menopause has implications for several health endpoints; in particular, it is a risk factor for breast cancer. The authors investigated factors influencing the timing of natural menopause among 95,704 women with a mean age of 59.7 years (10th-90th percentile range, 47.0-71.0) in five racial/ethnic groups in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, including non-Latina Whites, Japanese Americans, African Americans, Native Hawai'ians, and Latinas. The authors investigated whether race/ethnicity and several lifestyle and reproductive characteristics were associated with the timing of natural menopause. Race/ethnicity was a significant independent predictor of the timing of natural menopause. Other factors, including smoking, age at menarche, parity, and body mass index, did not significantly alter the race/ethnicity-specific hazard ratios. Relative to non-Latina Whites, natural menopause occurred earlier among Latinas (US-born Latinas: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 1.14; non-US-born Latinas: HR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.30) and later among Japanese Americans (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.95). These results support the hypothesis that the timing of natural menopause is driven by a combination of genetic, reproductive, and lifestyle factors.

Breast and cervical cancer screening: impact of health insurance status, ethnicity, and nativity of Latinas.

Although rates of cancer screening for Latinas are lower than for non-Latina whites, little is known about how insurance status, ethnicity, and nativity interact to influence these disparities. Using a large statewide database, our study examined the relationship between breast and cervical cancer screening rates and socioeconomic and health insurance status among foreign-born Latinas, US-born Latinas, and non-Latina whites in California. Data from the1998 California Women's Health Survey (CWHS) were analyzed (n = 3,340) using multiple logistic regression models. Utilization rates of mammography, clinical breast examinations, and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening among foreign-born Latinas, US-born Latinas, and non-Latina whites were the outcome measures. Foreign-born Latinas had the highest rates of never receiving mammography, clinical breast examinations, and Pap smears (21%, 24%, 9%, respectively) compared with US-born Latinas (12%, 11%, 7%, respectively) and non-Latina whites (9%, 5%, 2%, respectively). After controlling for socioeconomic factors, foreign-born Latinas were more likely to report mammography use in the previous 2 years and Pap smear in the previous 3 years than non-Latina whites. Lack of health insurance coverage was the strongest independent predictor of low utilization rates for mammography (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.76), clinical breast examinations (OR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.80-2.90) and Pap smears (OR = 2.89; 95% CI, 2.17-3.85.) Breast and cervical cancer screening rates vary by ethnicity and nativity, with foreign-born Latinas experiencing the highest rates of never being screened. After accounting for socioeconomic factors, differences by ethnicity and nativity are reversed or eliminated. Lack of health insurance coverage remains the strongest predictor of cancer screening underutilization.

Association of Acculturation with Cesarean Section among Latinas

Examine the association of acculturation and cesarean section after adjusting for clinical and non-clinical factors that could influence clinical discretion in performing the surgery. A sample of 2102 low-risk, low-income primarily Mexican Latinas in San Diego County was divided into two groups: primiparas and multiparas. For each parity group, logistic regression was used to assess the association of acculturation and cesarean section. Among multiparous Latinas, the risk of cesarean section for highly acculturated women exceeded the risk for the less-acculturated women, but the result was reverse for primiparous women. The adjusted relative odds of cesarean section were twice as high [OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.1-4.1] for multiparous US-born Latinas relative to multiparous Spanish-speaking women born in Mexico. While for primiparous women this same comparison showed US-born Latinas to be approximately half as likely to have a cesarean delivery [OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.7]. In order to reduce the chances of unnecessary cesarean sections among Latinas, the role of acculturation in women who have and have not already given birth needs to be investigated further.

The Latina paradox: an opportunity for restructuring prenatal care delivery.

Latina mothers in the United States enjoy surprisingly favorable birth outcomes despite their social disadvantages. This "Latina paradox" is particularly evident among Mexican-born women. The social and cultural factors that contribute to this paradox are maintained by community networks--informal systems of prenatal care that are composed of family, friends, community members, and lay health workers. This informal system confers protective factors that provide a behavioral context for healthy births. US-born Latinas are losing this protection, although it could be maintained with the support of community-based informal care systems. We recommend steps to harness the benefits of informal systems of prenatal care in Latino communities to meet the increasing needs of pregnant Latina women.

JOYCE ET AL. RESPOND

We appreciate the comments by Seils et al. As we stated in our article, we agree that relatively few foreign-born Latinas lost eligibility for publicly financed prenatal care under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). However, there was substantial fear and confusion in immigrant communities as to the ramifications of PRWORA. Governor Wilson of California was explicit about his desire to cut off public funding of prenatal care for the undocumented. A study by Urban Institute researchers of applications for Medi-Cal and welfare benefits in California after PRWORA concluded, “Since immigrant eligibility for these benefits has not changed in California since January 1996, this decline appears to reflect fewer immigrants applying for assistance for which they remain eligible.”1 In California, where data on Medicaidfinanced births by immigration status exist, in 1995 more than 74 000 births, or 55% of births to foreign-born Latinas, were to undocumented women. Our best estimate of births to undocumented Latinas in Texas was also substantial and was noted in our article. In short, the size of the affected population was potentially large, since many documented and undocumented immigrants believed themselves vulnerable to the implications of PRWORA. We limited the analysis to Latinas because the large number of US-born Latinas provided a natural comparison group. We believed it unlikely that the addition of more states with many fewer foreign-born women or “controls” would have increased power to detect an effect with vital data. It may be true that Latino men with coronary disease were adversely affected by PRWORA. We obviously never addressed that question, and we cannot be responsible for those who would generalize our results to other populations. We felt our question was explicit and, given the tenor of the times, appropriate. The percentage of births to US-born and foreign-born Latinas who initiate prenatal care early has risen without interruption since 1990. Our finding that PRWORA had no impact on this trend suggests that improved access to prenatal care among foreign-born Latinas remains an impressive achievement of the Medicaid eligibility expansions.

Differences in low-birthweight among documented and undocumented foreign-born and US-born Latinas

In the USA foreign-born women tend to have fewer low-birthweight births than US-born women from the same ethnicity. This “healthy migrant” effect could be caused by immigration of the fittest or by healthy people being deliberately selected in the immigration process. This study tests these hypotheses by comparing self-reported history of low-birth-weight among foreign-born documented and undocumented Latinas and US-born Latinas. The sample includes 2398 (57.5%) documented foreign-born Latinas, 782 (18.7%) undocumented foreign-born Latinas, and 993 (23.4%) US-born Latinas who initiated prenatal care at MIC-Women's Health Services/MHRA in New York City during 1996–1997. Only women who reported previous live births were included in the sample. Documented foreign-born Latinas were less likely than US-born Latinas to have low-birth-weight babies taking into account parity, age, risk, and education. There were no significant differences between rates of low-birthweight for undocumented foreign-born Latinas and US-born Latinas, or documented foreign-born Latinas. There was, however, a significant trend for rates of low-birthweight to increase from documented foreign-born to undocumented foreign-born to US-born women. This suggests that both official screening and migration of the fittest play a role in lower rates of low-birthweight among foreign-born Latinas compared to US-born Latinas.

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

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

Welfare reform and the perinatal health and health care use of Latino women in California, New York City, and Texas.

This study analyzed changes in the financing of prenatal care and delivery, the use of prenatal care, and birth outcomes among foreign-born vs US-born Latino women following enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in August 1996. We used a pre-post design with a comparison group. The sample consisted of resident Latinas in California, New York City, and Texas who delivered a live infant in 1995 or 1998. The proportion of births to Latinas that initiated prenatal care in the first 4 months of pregnancy increased for all foreign-born Latinas in California, New York City, and Texas between 1995 and 1998 (P <.05). Except for non-Dominicans in New York City, there was no increase in the proportion of low- or very-low-birthweight births among foreign-born vs US-born Latinas in the 3 localities between 1995 and 1996. There is little evidence from vital statistics in California, New York City, and Texas that PRWORA had any substantive impact on the perinatal health and health care utilization of foreign-born relative to US-born Latinas.

Maternal Birthplace, Ethnicity, and Low Birth Weight in California

Although immigrants to the United States are usually ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged, foreign-born women generally have lower rates of low birth weight infants than do US-born women. To measure the relationship between maternal birthplace, ethnicity, and low birth weight infants. Retrospective cohort study of birth certificate data. California, 1992. Singleton infants (n = 497 868) born to Asian, black, Latina, and white women. Very low birth weight (500-1499 g), moderately low birth weight (1500-2499 g), and normal birth weight (2500-4000 g, reference category). Foreign-born Latina women generally had less favorable maternal characteristics than US-born Latinas, yet foreign-born Latina women were less likely to have moderately low birth weight infants (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.96) than US-born Latinas after adjusting for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, tobacco use, use of prenatal care, and gestational age. While foreign-born Asian women generally had a less favorable profile of maternal characteristics than US-born Asians, there was no statistically significant difference in the odds of very low birth weight or moderately low birth weight infants between foreign- and US-born Asian women. Foreign-born black women had more favorable maternal characteristics than US-born women, but there was no significant nativity difference in very low birth weight or moderately low birth weight between foreign- and US-born black women after adjusting for maternal and infant factors. The relationship between maternal birthplace and low birth weight varies by ethnicity. Further study is needed to understand the favorable pregnancy outcomes of foreign-born Latina women.