Trends in Perinatal and Infant Health Disparities Between Rural American Indians and Alaska Natives and Rural Whites

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2008 Aug 16

PMID 18703453

Citations 20

Authors

Laura-Mae Baldwin

David C Grossman

Elise Murowchick

Eric H Larson

Walter B Hollow

Jonathan R Sugarman

William L Freeman

L Gary Hart

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined disparities in perinatal care, birth outcomes, and infant health between rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) persons and rural Whites over time.

Methods: We compared perinatal and infant health measures for 217 064 rural AIAN births and 5 032 533 rural non-Hispanic White births.

Results: Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, unadjusted rates of inadequate prenatal care (1985-1987, 36.3%; 1995-1997, 26.3%) and postneonatal death (1985-1987, 7.1 per 1000; 1995-1997, 4.8 per 1000) improved significantly. However, disparities between American Indians and Alaska Natives and Whites in adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of postneonatal death (1985-1987, AOR = 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41, 1.71; 1995-1997, AOR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.31, 1.64) and adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) of inadequate prenatal care (1985-1987, ARR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.65, 1.69; 1995-1997, ARR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.81, 1.87) persisted.

Conclusions: Despite significant decreases in inadequate prenatal care and postneonatal death among American Indians and Alaska Natives, additional measures are needed to close persistent health gaps for this group.

Citing Articles

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American Indian/Alaska Native Birth and Maternal Health Outcomes in Louisiana: Investigating Regional Disparities.

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