Maternal and paternal risk factors and adverse neonatal outcomes among Hispanic subgroups in Illinois (1989 through 1993).

Objectives: The study purposes were to examine maternal and paternal high-risk factors and note associated differences in birth outcomes among Hispanic subgroups compared with white and black populations in Illinois.

Study Design: Computerized birth certificate data of 131,768 Hispanic singleton neonates (14.1% of all Illinois births from 1989 through 1993) were compared among five Hispanic subgroups. Matched infant birth-death computerized files were obtained for neonatal and postneonatal mortality (1989 through 1992 birth cohorts) and separate fetal mortality tables were also examined.

Results: Whereas Puerto Rican mothers had higher prevalence rates for various maternal risk factors and higher infant morbidity rates among the five Hispanic groups, infants of Cuban mothers had significantly higher fetal and infant mortality rates.

Conclusions: Our study identified substantial differences during the prenatal period and in birth outcomes among the five Hispanic subgroups. Those differences may help us develop innovative targeted interventions.