Socio-demographic factors and pregnancy outcomes

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A number of reports demonstrate that although foreign-born Mexican women have an adverse socio-demographic profile, they have a low rate of prematurity and a low incidence of low birth weight infants. In contrast, Asian-Indian women have a more favorable socio-demographic profile but a high incidence of low birth weight infants. Madan et al take such observations one step farther to the next generation. U.S.-born Mexican women had an improved socio-demographic profile but more preterms, low birth weight infants, and increased neonatal mortality. U.S.-born Asian-Indian women did not have a decrease in low birth weight infants. Factors separate from socio-demographic factors are influencing pregnancy outcomes. The challenge is to identify the factors resulting in these adverse pregnancy outcomes.