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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
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Should Race Be Used as a Variable in Research on Preterm Birth?
Kacey Y Eichelberger1, Julianna G Alson2, Kemi M Doll3
1An assistant professor and the vice chair of academics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System.
AMA Journal of Ethics
|March 16, 2018
Summary
Race is a social construct, not a biological trait, influencing preterm birth (PTB) outcomes through discrimination. Understanding PTB requires an ecosocial approach, acknowledging lived experiences and multigenerational health impacts.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Social Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Racial disparities in preterm birth (PTB) outcomes are documented.
- Current research often incorrectly treats race as a fixed biological factor.
- Race is a social construct reflecting systemic discrimination and unique stressors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the limitations of treating race as a biological variable in PTB research.
- To advocate for an ecosocial framework for studying race and PTB.
- To highlight the embodied, multigenerational health consequences of race-related experiences.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of race as a social construct in clinical research.
- Exploration of the ecosocial model's application to PTB.
- Examination of historical and ongoing discrimination's impact on health.
Main Results:
- Conflating race with genetics in PTB research causes harm.
- Excluding race as a variable leads to irrelevant findings.
- An ecosocial context is essential for understanding race and PTB.
Conclusions:
- Race in PTB research must be viewed through an ecosocial lens.
- Acknowledging lived experiences of discrimination is crucial for accurate research.
- New research approaches are needed to address the complexities of race and PTB in the U.S.
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