Southeast Asian refugees of Rhode Island: a preliminary analysis of birth records
Author(s):
Hollinshead Wh; Migotsky Jm
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Rhode Island Medical Journal, Volume 67, Issue 8 (1984-08). pp. 357-359.
Language:
English
Abstract:
This paper reports the results of a preliminary analysis of the birth records of Southeast Asian refugees in Rhode Island. The data were drawn from a computerized file of live births, fetal deaths, and infant deaths among Rhode Island residents. There were 737 live births to Southeast Asian refugees in the years 1978-82, 427 of which were to Hmong parents, 192 to Cambodians, and 118 to Laotians and other Southeast Asians. 17% of Hmong births and 13% of cambodian births were to women under 20 years of age, compared to 9% of all Rhode Island births. Births to women over 34 years of age were alos more frequent among the southeast Asian refugees compared with Rhode Island women. About 35% of all Southeast Asian births were to women with 3 or more previous reported live births compared to 7% of all Rhode Island births in 1981. 8.5% of the Southeast Asian infants compared to 5.9% of Rhode Island neonates weighed less than 2500 gm at birth, and low birthweights were most frequent among infants of Cambodian descent. There were 8 deaths in the refugee series (infant mortality rate 10.9/1000 live births), 5 of which involved infants weighing less than 2500 gm. Refugee families face financial, cultural, and linguistic obstacles in seeking Western medical care. This study suggests that these problems are reflected in a high incidence of low birthweight deliveries, late and limited use of prenatal care, and a growing number of home deliveries, especially among the Hmong. It is recommended that medical professionals, health planners, and community groups should focus attention on the risks, needs, and problems of refugee families in the US (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)