Pregnancy outcomes of US-born and foreign-born Japanese Americans

Objectives. This study investigated birth outcomes of Japanese Americans, focusing on the role of the mother's place of birth. Methods. Single live births to US-resident Japanese American mothers (n = 37 941) were selected from th 1983 through 1987 US linked live birth-infant death files. Results. US-born mothers were more likely than foreign-born mothers to be less than 18 years old and not married, to start prenatal care early, and to more adequately use prenatal care. Infants or foreign-born Japanese Americans had a slightly lower risk of low birthweight. No significant differences were found between nativity groups for very low birthweight or neonatal, postneonatal, and infant mortality. The mortality rates of infants of US-born (6.2) and foreign-born (5.4) Japanese American women were below the US Year 2000 objective but still exceeded Japan's 1990 rate (4.6). However, low-birthweight percentages of the US-born group (5.7%) and the foreign-born group (5.0%) were similar to that of Japan (5.5%). Conclusions. The infants of foreign-born Japanese-American women exhibited modestly better low-birthweight percentages than those of US-born Japanese Americans. This finding supports theories of the healthy immigrant.