"Do Hispanic infants start life's race behind the starting line, poor and disadvantaged?" questioned a new report from the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy.

There are more than 54 million Latinos living in the U.S. and approximately 5.4 million U.S. Latino children living in poverty. According to report, one-fourth of all infants born in the U.S. are Hispanic. Hispanic infants are nearly 2.8 times more likely to be born into poverty. That number surpasses the number of impoverished children born to all other ethnic or racial group in the U.S. Approximately 23.1 percent of all U.S.-born children are Latino, but they represent 37.3 percent of the nation's poor children.

Fertility rates for Hispanics outpace non-Hispanic whites by 20 percent, with the poorest, least educated, more disadvantaged and least English proficient women most likely to contribute to the birth of Hispanic children. Poverty rates are exceptionally high for Hispanic infants born to mothers with limited English (52.4 percent) and 54 percent of all infants born to single mothers are born into poverty. Hispanic fertility is also highest in rural areas that are saturated with immigrant populations and destinations known for receiving an influx of Hispanic migrants, particularly migrants of Mexican origin. In these rural areas, Hispanics provide "demographic lifelines to dying small towns."

Hispanic infants are predisposed to disadvantage and poverty. The poverty facing Hispanic infants has both instantaneous and long-lasting consequences for them and the economy. The "at risk" infants will likely face circumstances of inequality and social discrimination.

"Poverty in utero and at birth shapes a child's long-term cognitive development and the prospect of incorporation into American society. Early childhood poverty also tends to set into motion a series of life-cycle disadvantages (such as inadequate parenting, bad neighborhoods, underfunded schools, and poor health care) that greatly increases the likelihood of poverty in adulthood," said the report.

Early indicators for poverty are often present in Hispanic mothers. Approximately one-in-four Hispanic mothers begin conceiving in their teens, 40 percent are unmarried, and about 70 percent have a high school diploma or less. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic infants have foreign-born mothers and poverty risks are higher for foreign-born Hispanics with limited English skills. Comparably, the poverty rate is 38 percent of U.S.-born Hispanic mothers.

Half of impoverished children use food stamps and 12 percent of poor Hispanic children accept some other form of welfare, which often fails to meet the needs of children battling social, physical and cultural isolation from the mainstream. Poor children require a great deal of assistance and safety-net programs because many of their parents struggle to find work. Also, if their parents are undocumented, they're likely unaware of or ineligible for government assistance. The report suggested that the demographic shift could provoke a "racial and ethnic transformation," whereas younger, poorer Hispanics will grow to outnumber older, wealthier non-Hispanic white populations.

The study findings suggested that childhood poverty can lead to inadequate parenting, poor neighborhoods, underfunded schools and lousy health care. Low-wage, low-skill immigrant Hispanic workers will suffer the consequences of concentrated poverty and low family income.