Samoan parental ethnicity and infant birth-weight in Hawai'i.

OBJECTIVE

Comparative study of racial-ethnic (RE) gestational age (GA) mean birth-weight (MBW) differences for 1968-1994.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive statistical analyses of 314,633 State of Hawai'i live birth certificates: birthweights of 500-5000 grams, gestational ages 24-42 weeks, and recorded Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Samoan, and Other RE parentage. Multiple regression analyses of single infant birth records were performed to adjust birth-weight for selected covariates and assess the independent effects of maternal and paternal RE on MBW.

RESULTS

Samoans consistently displayed significantly the largest MBW whether based on single or mixed RE parentage. After covariate adjustment MBW significantly related to Samoan maternal RE followed by Samoan paternal RE.

CONCLUSION

A consistent trajectory of larger MBWs across GA span of 24-42 weeks is associated with the Samoan group. Results support the importance of maternal role in determining birth-weight. Additional data for analysis of birth size and cord blood levels of insulin growth factor and research on genetic and epigenetic questions are warranted.