How Does the Context of Reception Matter? : The Role of Residential Enclaves on Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy for Mexican-origin Mothers

Although immigrant women are less likely to smoke compared to Non-hispanic whites and U.S. natives born of same ethnic origin, previous studies indicate that acculturation is positively associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy. The increase in maternal smoking during pregnancy with acculturation is often attributed to the downward trajectory within the segmented assimilation framework. However, theoretical frameworks (e.g., acculturation) that emphasize cultural explanations have used a “zero-sum game” approach which does not provide a comprehensive understanding of complex acculturative processes of the immigrant experience. To incorporate the structural factors in the context of reception in understanding maternal smoking during pregnancy of Mexican-origin women in the United States, we draw from the emerging scholarship on how residential segregation affects health. Our preliminary results support the protective effect of immigrant enclaves for Mexican foreign-born women. On the other hand, interaction with non-Hispanic white at the contextual level is associated with the increased odd of maternal smoking during pregnancy.