Poverty, Family Support, and Well-Being of Infants: Mexican Immigrant Women and Childbearing

Authors

Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Rossana E. Barrera, Norwegian-American Hospital, Chicago

Abstract

Data reveal that despite high levels of poverty, Mexican immigrants have relatively few low birth weight babies. This unusual pattern suggests that there are "protective" social factors mediating the effects of povertyperhaps especially family support. Our study, based on in-depth interviews with immigrant women in Chicago, finds that family support does protect some women from delivering a low birth weight infant but it does not protect women living in extreme poverty. Implications for services to Mexican immigrant women in childbearing years and their families are presented. These findings also speak to broad issues in social policy, especially the need for outreach and basic support to the very poor.

Recommended Citation

Sherrard Sherraden, Margaret and Barrera, Rossana E. (1996) "Poverty, Family Support, and Well-Being of Infants: Mexican Immigrant Women and Childbearing," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 23: Iss. 2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2328
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol23/iss2/3