The association of maternal country/region of origin and nativity with infant mortality rate among Hispanic preterm infants

Among US-born preterm infants of Hispanic mothers, we analyzed the unadjusted and adjusted infant mortality rate (IMR) by country/region of origin and maternal nativity status.

Using linked national US birth and death certificate data (2005–2014), we examined preterm infants of Hispanic mothers by subgroup and nativity. Clinical and sociodemographic covariates were included and the main outcome was death in the first year of life.

In our cohort of 891,216 preterm Hispanic infants, we demonstrated different rates of infant mortality by country and region of origin, but no difference between infants of Hispanic mothers who were US vs. foreign-born.

These findings highlight the need to disaggregate the heterogenous Hispanic birthing population into regional and national origin groups to better understand unique factors associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in order to develop more targeted interventions for these subgroups.