Low Birthweight among Immigrants in Australia and the United Kingdom

Melissa L. Martinson, University of Washington
Marta Tienda, Princeton University
Julien O. Teitler, Columbia University

Using two nationally representative longitudinal surveys, we investigate whether the immigrant paradox in low birthweight is unique to the United States by examining evidence for Australia and the United Kingdom, two countries sharing many cultural similarities and long immigration traditions. Specifically we ask 1) whether the immigrant advantage in low birthweight observed in the U.S. also exists in Australia and the United Kingdom and, 2) whether duration in the host country is associated with the rate of low birthweight in these high immigration nations. Our study innovates in three ways: first, we examine the immigrant advantage in a comparative framework; second, we use non-linear measures of host country duration; and finally, we introduce origin country low birthweight among the covariates of interest. For Australia we find no evidence of an immigrant advantage in low birthweight; however, in the UK foreign-born status is protective against low birthweight, albeit differentially by race.