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

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