Birth Outcomes as a Lens to Understanding the Hispanic Health Paradox

The research investigates the “Latino health paradox” through the health determinant of birth outcomes and two levels of intersectionality expressed within the context of the cultural, the economic, and the political. The first level of intersection identifies that there are factors behind the identifier “Mexican migrant mother” which provide a more comprehensive understanding of the health paradox. The second level of intersection defines the component of “health”. It classifies “life” into three tailored spheres, cultural, economic, and political, seeking to understand the impact of these spheres on the health of the subject, Mexican Migrant Mothers. The cultural sphere embodies nutritional practices, the family, and religiosity. The economic sphere encompasses socioeconomic status, residential enclaves, and income stability. Lastly, the political sphere is associated with affordable healthcare, internal bordering, and access to citizenship. This research found there are multiple reasons why un-acculturated Mexican women with lower socioeconomic status have healthier babies compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts; however, there is one prevalent factor that appears as a causal factor… diet. Newly migrated families tend to adhere to a more traditional diet consisting of less processed foods, more vegetables, and whole foods than their fellow immigrant counterparts who have resided within the United States for greater periods of time. Prompting the correlation that this diet is related to healthier babies. There are multiple social, physiological, political, and economic factors why immigrants acclimatize to the American diet. Clearly, this is an area for additional future longitudinal study designs and qualitative research to determine a timeframe and factors for American diet acclimatization and its effects on birth outcomes over generations of migrants. This additional study could improve the long-term health of the entire Mexican American culture and reduce the debilitating effects the American diet creates with diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and overall quality of life