Early life mortality rates and mortality rate ratios among singleton and multiple births, five subgroups of Hispanics in Illinois (1989-1992).1631

In the next decade every third neonate born in the U.S. will be of Hispanic origin. 1989-1992 birth death linked files and fetal death records were analyzed, Chi square was used with two sided probability value of less than 0.05 to evaluate statistical significance and odds ratios and RR were calculated for mortality rate ratios for multiple/single mortality indices. Race/ethnicity was determined by maternal listing of her ethnicity on birth certificate. Neonates weighing <500 grams and <20 weeks gestation were excluded and mortality indices were calculated for 1000 births. Multiple/single mortality rate ratios were compared for each subgroup with the remaining four subgroups. Conclusion: Multiple birth mortality risk ratios were significantly elevated for fetal, neonatal and postneonatal, perinatal and infant births for the Mexican and South/Central American Hispanic subgroups. Table

Table 1