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Maternal and Child Health

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Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Arab Americans

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Abstract

This chapter describes the current state of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in the Arab American community. In areas in which any (national or state) data are available to identify Arab Americans, there is evidence in some cases of disadvantage, advantage, or no difference relative to preterm birth. Key areas lacking ethnic specific data include immunization and health insurance coverage. The validity of these assessments are uncertain due to the existing methods of data acquisition, specifically the ability to decipher Arab ethnicity in data sources. The roles of social and cultural factors are also unclear. Migration and acculturation as well as discrimination are two specific stressors on this population that may impact MCH. This chapter highlights the limitations of current data sources and makes recommendations for enhanced future surveillance of MCH for Arab Americans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellness, Health Promotion and Injury Prevention, School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA

    Florence J. Dallo Ph.D., M.P.H.

  2. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3939 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Carolyn Archer & Dawn P. Misra

Authors
  1. Florence J. Dallo Ph.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Carolyn Archer
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  3. Dawn P. Misra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florence J. Dallo Ph.D., M.P.H. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA

    Sylvia C. Nassar-McMillan

  2. Department of Sociology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

    Kristine J. Ajrouch

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

    Julie Hakim-Larson

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Dallo, F.J., Archer, C., Misra, D.P. (2014). Maternal and Child Health. In: Nassar-McMillan, S., Ajrouch, K., Hakim-Larson, J. (eds) Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Arab Americans. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8238-3_15

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