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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

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01-04-2012 | Original Paper

Rising Disparities in Severe Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Haitians in Québec, Canada, 1981–2006

Authors: Nathalie Auger, Martine Chery, Mark Daniel

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 2/2012

Abstract

Perinatal health data for Haitians are scant. We evaluated adverse birth outcomes for Haitians in Québec, Canada. We analyzed 2,124,909 live births from 1981 to 2006. Haitian ethnicity was assessed using maternal birth country (Haiti, other Caribbean country, other foreign country, Canada) and home language (Creole, French/English but Creole mother tongue, French/English, other). Associations between ethnicity and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth were calculated. Adverse birth outcomes were more common among mothers with Haitian ethnicity. Relative to Canadian-born mothers, odds for Haitian-born mothers were 4 times greater for extreme PTB (≤27 weeks), twice greater for very PTB (28–31 weeks), and 25% higher for moderate PTB (32–36 weeks). Patterns were similar for SGA birth and severe cases of LBW. Despite overall decreases LBW and SGA birth, relative and absolute inequalities increased over time. Perinatal health inequalities are increasing for Haitian-born mothers.

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Title: Rising Disparities in Severe Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Haitians in Québec, Canada, 1981–2006
Authors: Nathalie Auger
Martine Chery
Mark Daniel
Publication date: 01-04-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9460-y

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Rising Disparities in Severe Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Haitians in Québec, Canada, 1981–2006

Abstract

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