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Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 4/2014

01-08-2014 | Original Paper

Disparities and Barriers Encountered by Immigrant Dominican Mothers Accessing Prenatal Care Services in Puerto Rico

Authors: J. F. Colón-Burgos, H. M. Colón-Jordan, V. E. Reyes-Ortiz, H. A. Marin-Centeno, R. Rios-Mota

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

Inadequate access to prenatal services has been associated with higher rates of mother and child mortality and premature births in the general population. Thus, this paper aims to compare the utilization and adequacy of prenatal care services of Dominican immigrant mothers with that of Puerto Rican mothers. Data was extracted from birth certificates using a cohort from 1998 to 2002 (n = 252, 919). The Kotelchuck index for adequate prenatal care was used for comparison with socio-demographic characteristics of the population. Less than half of Dominican mothers (48.5 %) received adequate prenatal care compared to more than two-thirds (69.1 %) of Puerto Rican mothers (p < .001). After controlling for demographic characteristics, health insurance, pregnancy risks, complications and previous birth (parity) the odds of receiving adequate care of Dominican mothers was 0.7 that of Puerto Rican mothers (p < .001). These results suggest significant disparities in obtaining adequate prenatal care services among migrant women and native Puerto Ricans.
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Metadata
Title
Disparities and Barriers Encountered by Immigrant Dominican Mothers Accessing Prenatal Care Services in Puerto Rico
Authors
J. F. Colón-Burgos
H. M. Colón-Jordan
V. E. Reyes-Ortiz
H. A. Marin-Centeno
R. Rios-Mota
Publication date
01-08-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9875-8

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