The prevalence of intrauterine growth retardation in Mexican Americans.

This study evaluated the prevalence of intrauterine growth retardation in Mexican Americans compared with non-Hispanic Whites in the state of Arizona. Data came from all live birth certificates in 1986 and 1987. Rates of intrauterine growth retardation in Mexican-American and non-Hispanic White infants in Arizona were lower than those in White infants in California. Differences in patterns of the 10th percentile growth distribution curves were observed between infants born in Arizona and those born in California. Compared with non-Hispanic Whites, Mexican Americans had lower adjusted odds ratios for intrauterine growth retardation according to several maternal risk characteristics.