Table 5

OR (and 95% CI)* for LBW for migrant women compared with European-born and US-born women, and for various world regions according to their place of destination (Europe vs USA)

Migrant groupInfants born in EuropeInfants born in USAInfants born take over in Europe take over versus in USA†
OR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)
Native-born women1.001.000.61 (0.47 to 0.79)
Migrants from
 Western Europe and north America0.91 (0.77 to 1.07)
 East Europe0.99 (0.79 to 1.25)
 North Africa and Middle East0.78 (0.60 to 1.01)
 Sub-Saharan Africa1.75 (1.44 to 2.12)0.75 (0.55 to 1.02)1.42 (0.95 to 2.14)
 South-central Asia1.84 (1.54 to 2.20)1.33 (1.01 to 1.77)0.84 (0.57 to 1.23)
 East and south-east Asia1.20 (0.72 to 2.02)0.89 (0.73 to 1.09)0.82 (0.46 to 1.46)
 Latin America and Caribbean1.46 (1.17 to 1.83)0.72 (0.62 to 0.82)1.24 (0.90 to 1.72)
  • LBW, low birth weight; OR, odds ratio.

  • * Obtained with a three-level model including random effects (subgroup and studies) and fixed effects (migrant status, maternal region of origin, place of destination, maternal region of origin × place of destination and infant's year of birth).

  • Infants born in the USA are the reference group.