TESTING THE EFFECT OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC PARADOX: BIRTH WEIGHT OF NEWBORNS OF IMMIGRANT AND NON-IMMIGRANT MOTHERS IN THE REGION OF VALENCIA, SPAIN

SummaryThe epidemiological paradox and ‘healthy migrant effect’ refer to the favourable health outcomes in unprivileged groups under unfavourable socioeconomic conditions. Weight at birth is associated with the epidemiological paradox. However, differences in fertility structure (mainly mother's age and first maternity) might be the cause of the difference in weight at birth between children of immigrant and non-immigrant mothers. This paper aims to analyse the impact of the epidemiologic paradox by distinguishing between the factors related to fertility structure, in addition to other socio-cultural factors. The importance of fertility structure as the cause of weight-at-birth differences …