Ethnicity and Low Birth Weight: Inequalities Between Ethnic Minorities and the Predominant Mestizo Population, Colombia, 2008 – 2014

AbstractLow birth weight (LBW) is a global problem that annually affects nearly 20 million children, 96% of these in developing countries. According to the WHO, the poorest and the ethnic minorities are the groups most affected by this indicator. A cross-sectional study of the database of all newborns officially registered in Colombia in 2008 –2014 was done. While dichotomizing the mestizo population and ethnic minorities (Afro-descendants, indigenous, ROM), normal and low birth weight was used as the dependent variable and ethnicity as the explanatory variable. Other variables of the parents and the newborns were used as covariates. T o assess associations, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. The incidence of LBW among newborns registered in Colombia fluctuated at around 9%. Among the ethnic minorities, the probability of LBW, adjusted for other variables, was significantly higher (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05–1.08) than among mestizos. A significantly higher risk of LBW to newborns in the ethnic minorities’ group, and those with unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, was found
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research