Healthy immigrant paradox: Child mortality and child maltreatment in first-generation immigrant families and non-first-generation immigrant families

Abstract

Substantial progress has been made toward investigating the circumstances of child deaths, yet little is known about child deaths in U.S. immigrant families (Shanley, Risch, & Bonner, 2010; Millet, 2016). Statistics indicate that one in five children younger than the age of 18 is the child of an immigrant (Federal Interagency Form on Child and Family Statistics, 2002; Padilla, Radey, Hummer, & Kim, 2006). Despite socioeconomic disparities and acculturation challenges, the Healthy Immigrant Paradox (HIP) proposes that immigrants have better health outcomes and experience lower infant mortality rates compared to U.S. native-born families (Millet, 2016; Speciale, 2010; Taningco, 2007). The social responsibility to protect the lives of all children warrants a better understating of the circumstances of child death, specifically child maltreatment fatalities, occurring in first-generation immigrant families (FGIF) and in non-first-generation immigrant families (Non-FGIF).

The researcher investigated if Healthy Immigrant Paradox (HIP) accounted for family subgroup differences between child deaths due to medical and injury causes as well as child deaths due to probable child maltreatment. Researchers then assessed if family subgroups and family risk factors (parent history of substance abuse, parent history of delinquent/criminal history, residence overcrowding) predicted child deaths due to probable child maltreatment between the family groups. Overall, findings provided mixed support for HIP. As expected, findings indicated there were statistically significant differences between medical and injury causes of child deaths in FGIF and Non-FIGF. There were no statistically significant differences found in child deaths due to probable child abuse and child neglect in FGIF and Non-FGIF. Yet, regression analysis revealed FGIF experienced less child mortality from probable child maltreatment than Non-FGIF. Lastly, an inverse relationship was found between all risk factors and child deaths from probable child maltreatment. Recommendations for child fatality prevention programs and future research are discussed.