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. 2019 Oct;104(10):931-935.
doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316486. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Racial disparities in preterm birth in USA: a biosensor of physical and social environmental exposures

Heather H Burris  1   2 , Scott A Lorch  1   2 , Haresh Kirpalani  1   2 , DeWayne M Pursley  3   4 , Michal A Elovitz  5 , Jane E Clougherty  6
Affiliations

Racial disparities in preterm birth in USA: a biosensor of physical and social environmental exposures

Heather H Burris et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Race is a social construct that involves a person’s self-assigned, and externally-perceived, group membership. Group membership can determine much about Americans’ lives and health. Complex health disorders such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity disproportionately affect Non-Hispanic black Americans. An individual’s risk of any of these disorders encompasses both genetic predisposition and environmental stimuli. We propose that environmental stressors may be large contributors to differences in preterm birth rates in the United States between racial groups. Environmental exposures differ by race due to ongoing residential, educational and economic racial segregation as well as discrimination. Characterizing and mitigating environmental factors that contribute to differential preterm risk could identify women at risk, prevent some preterm births, and reduce perinatal health disparities.

Keywords: environmental health; preterm birth; race and health; social determinants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Black-white disparities in preterm birth over 10 years in the US,; RR=relative risk
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expanded framework for environmental exposures that shape racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Black-white disparities in preterm birth according to maternal education in the US. Data from CDC Wonder, singleton births from 2016; RR=relative risk
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Inequity at birth and population health.
    David R. David R. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Oct;104(10):929-930. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-317078. Epub 2019 Jun 22. Arch Dis Child. 2019. PMID: 31229954 No abstract available.

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