Reproductive Characteristics of Mexican-American, Mainland Puerto Rican, and Cuban-American Women

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Abstract
Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to investigate reproductive characteristics of Hispanic females aged 15 to 45 years. Mexican-American and Puerto Rican women reported approximately 1.9 and 1.7 live births each, respectively, whereas Cuban-American women reported 1.1. Mexican-American women were more likely to be using oral contraceptives and were more likely to have had a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy than were Cubans and Puerto Ricans. The largest percentage of tubal ligations were found among Puerto Rican women. Mexican women who had been pregnant in the previous 12 months were more likely than their Puerto Rican and Cuban-American counterparts to be breastfeeding. Further research is needed to investigate the decision processes and/or cultural variations that may be responsible for these differences in reproductive traits across national origin groups. (JAMA. 1991;265:222-226)