ABSTRACT
Children of Latino heritage represent the fastest growing group among children in the United States (US). With regards to health status, Mexican American infants and young children display more optimal health outcomes in some domains while appearing vulnerable to greater risks for poor health in other domains. Public health epidemiologists have coined the term 'Hispanic Paradox' to refer to the fact that Hispanics display more optimal pregnancy outcomes despite exposure to greater socioeconomic risk factors. Despite lower socioeconomic status, however, Hispanics have lower rates of low birth weight births and infant mortality. The health advantage of improved pregnancy outcomes in the face of socioeconomic dis-advantage is not observed equally across all Hispanic subgroups. Generally, the best pregnancy outcomes among Hispanics are observed among those of Mexican, Cuban, and Central/South American origin, whereas Puerto Ricans display rates of poor pregnancy outcome which are intermediate to those of non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans.
