Risk Factors/Causes
To be able to help the Latino community, health care providers must be aware of the factors that make a given group of Latinos have greater occurrences of infant mortality and also know what factors actually cause infant mortality.
Risk Factors
Nativity
Research conducted on infant mortality showed that infants of U.S. born Latinas were more likely to die below the age of one than any other groups. Because U.S. born Latina mothers show the same behavior traits like Americans, they are more likely to have higher rates of infant mortality. Some of these behaviors like decreased fiber consumption and increased use of alcohol and cigarettes diet are what lead to infant death rates (Hamisu). This is because these behaviors affect the health of a Latina mother and in turn affect the baby¡¯s health hence causing a higher risk for infant mortality.
Poor pre and postnatal care
Since many Latinas are faced with poverty and a low education, they receive poor or no pre and postnatal care. Studies have shown that few Latina mothers get or have access to prenatal care. Because of minimal medical monitoring of pregnant Latinas, infant mortality rates are more likely to increase since health problems go unnoticed.This greatly increases the risk of pregnancy related complications and infections that go on to affect an infant after birth. In addition, problems like malnutrition, low birth weight and birth defects could arise as a result therefore increasing the chances of infant mortality.
Age at Pregnancy
Age at which a mother gives birth is another factor that affects infant mortality rates. Medical research shows that giving birth at a very young age (teenager) and old age (above 35) could increase the risks of infant mortality. Teenagers are associated with low birth weight babies and older Latina mothers with birth defect babies; both are factors that lead to infant mortality, Latinas continue to give birth even after 35 and have high prevalence of teenage pregnancies, greatly increasing risks for infant mortality.
Causes
According to the National Vital Statistics report, the four leading causes of infant mortality in Latinos respectively includes birth defects, low birth weight, maternal complications, and sudden death syndrome. Some of these causes are related and caused as a result of another. To examine these causes, we look at them closely as shown below:
Birth Defects
Birth defects affect almost 3% of all births and are a leading cause of infant mortality. Infants of Hispanic mothers compared with infants of other mothers had a significantly higher birth prevalence of Neanderthals, spina bifida, encephalocele, gastroschisis, and Down syndrome compared with infants of other non Hispanic mothers. From the National Vital Statistics Reports in 2003, birth defects are the leading cause of death in infant Latinos. Though it is not quite known why this is so, more research conducted on birth defects could open a door for solutions.
Low Birth Weight
Low birth weight ranks as the second leading cause of death among Latinos according to the National Vital Statistics Reports in 2003. Low birth weight among Latino babies can be due to many factors. Medical studies show that among Latinos, it is mainly prevalent in the Puerto Rican community due to factors like poor nutrition, maternal sickness, and teenage pregnancy and other maternal complications.
Maternal Complications
Maternal complications among Latinas is another great cause of infant death in Latinos before age one. Complications usually arise because of minimal access to medical care. These complications go on to affect the health and also the growth of the fetus. Premature, low birth weight, and babies with defects arise from this but unfortunately many of them don¡¯t get to make it past their first birthday.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of post neonatal mortality in the United States, currently accounts for approximately 3000 deaths per year. "The sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history." This population-based case-control study, which took place in Chicago between 1993 and 1996, investigated socio demographic, behavioral, and medical characteristics of the family and infant; characteristics of the home environment; and the circumstances of death.
