Perinatal and infant health among rural and urban American Indians/Alaska Natives


  • Abstract

    OBJECTIVES:

    We sought to provide a national profile of rural and urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) maternal and infant health.

    METHODS:

    In this cross-sectional study of all 1989-1991 singleton AI/AN births to US residents, we compared receipt of an inadequate pattern of prenatal care, low birthweight (< 2500 g), infant mortality, and cause of death for US rural and urban AI/AN and non-AI/AN populations.

    RESULTS:

    Receipt of an inadequate pattern of prenatal care was significantly higher for rural than for urban mothers of AI/AN infants (18.1% vs 14.4%, P </=.001); rates for both groups were over twice that for Whites (6.8%). AI/AN postneonatal death rates (rural = 6.7 per 1000; urban = 5.4 per 1000) were more than twice that of Whites (2.6 per 1000).

    CONCLUSIONS:

    Preventable disparities between AI/ANs and Whites in maternal and infant health status persist.


  • Authors:

    Baldwin LM, Grossman DC, Casey S

  • Journal/Publisher:

    Am J Public Health

  • Edition:

    Sep 2002. 92(9):1491-1497

  • Link to Article

    Access the article here: Am J Public Health

  • Citation:

    Baldwin LM, Grossman DC, Casey S. Perinatal And Infant Health Among Rural And Urban American Indians/Alaska Natives. Am J Public Health. Sep 2002 92(9):1491-1497

  • Related Studies:

    Perinatal Risk Factors, Prenatal Care Use, Birth Outcomes, and Infant Mortality of Rural and Urban American Indian Women