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

Low 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 offic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of immigrant and minority health 2021-02, Vol.23 (1), p.62-70
Main Authors: Sierra-Rodríguez, Victoria-Lucia, Cardona-Arango, Doris, Arroyave, Ivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth Weight
Bivariate analysis
Body Weight
Child
Childbirth & labor
Children
Colombia
Comparative Law
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dependent variables
Descendants
Developing countries
Ethnic groups
Ethnicity
Humans
Inequality
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
International & Foreign Law
LDCs
Low birth weight
Low income groups
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Minority & ethnic groups
Minority groups
Multiracial people
Neonates
Newborn babies
Original Paper
Private International Law
Public Health
Racial Groups
Regression analysis
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Sociology
Statistical analysis
Weight
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Summary:Low 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. To 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
ISSN:1557-1912
1557-1920
DOI:10.1007/s10903-020-01031-4