Maternal Place of Birth, Socioeconomic Characteristics, and Child Health in US-Born Latinx Children in Boston.
OBJECTIVE
Among US-born children of Latina US (USB) and Latina foreign-born mothers (FBM), to determine whether 1) household and child characteristics differ; 2) child health outcomes differ; 3) these differences diminish for children of FBM with longer duration of residence in the United States; and 4) these differences can be explained by food insecurity (FI) or by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 2145 Latina mothers of publicly insured US-born children 0 to 48 months old in a Boston emergency department (ED) 2004 to 2013. Predictors were FBM versus USBM and duration of residence in the United States. Outcomes were mothers' report of child health, history of hospitalization, developmental risk, and hospital admission on the day of ED visit. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders and effect modification.


RESULTS
FBM versus USBM households had more household (31% vs 26%) and child (19% vs 11%) FI and lower SNAP participation (44% vs 67%). Children of FBM versus USBM were more likely to be reported in fair/poor versus good/excellent health (adjusted odds ratios 1.9, 95% confidence interval [1.4, 2.6]), with highest odds for children of FBM with shortest duration of residence, and to be admitted to the hospital on the day of the ED visit (adjusted odds ratios 1.7, 95% confidence interval [1.3, 2.2]). SNAP and FI did not fully explain these outcomes.


CONCLUSION
When providing care and creating public policies, clinicians and policymakers should consider higher rates of food insecurity, lower SNAP participation, and risk for poor health outcomes in Latinx children of FBM.
['Tang|Margot N|MN|', 'Ettinger de Cuba|Stephanie|S|', 'Coleman|Sharon M|SM|', 'Heeren|Timothy|T|', 'Sandel|Megan|M|', 'Chilton|Mariana|M|', 'Frank|Deborah A|DA|', 'Huh|Susanna Y|SY|']
D000328:Adult D001900:Boston D016022:Case-Control Studies D000067576:Child Health D002675:Child, Preschool D002658:Developmental Disabilities D004293:Dominican Republic D004544:El Salvador D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants D005260:Female D063105:Food Assistance D000084884:Food Insecurity D006630:Hispanic or Latino D006760:Hospitalization D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D007843:Latin America D016015:Logistic Models D008297:Male D009035:Mothers D011647:Puerto Rico D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D013997:Time Factors D014481:United States D055815:Young Adult
child health Latinx food insecurity Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program immigrant