Race/ethnic differences and age-variation in the effects of birth outcomes on infant mortality in the U.S

Abstract

This paper investigates effects of continuous measures of birth outcomes on U.S. infant mortality for non-Hispanic white, black, and Mexican-American females. Birth outcomes show larger effects on neonatal mortality with smaller effects later on. Unlike static effects models, age-varying effect models of early and late gestational age and small birth weight statistically adjust for the black neonatal mortality disadvantage. While Mexican American infant mortality largely mirrors that of whites throughout the first year, higher neonatal mortality among blacks reflects disadvantaged birth outcome composition. Higher postneonatal mortality among blacks remains, net of birth outcomes, and may largely reflect socio-environmental disadvantages. © 2006 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.