Race and birthweight of biracial infants

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to determine the role of infant race as a determinant of the Black-White disparity in low birthweight (<2500 g). Methods. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed on Illinois vital records from 1982 and 1983 and on 1980 United States census income data. Results. Fourteen percent of the infants born to Black mothers and White fathers were of low birthweight, compared with 9% of infants born to White mothers and Black fathers and 6% of a random sample of White infants. Both groups of biracial infants were more likely to have been born to unmarried mothers and to reside in very low-income (