Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

90.5K

Neighbourhood Social Vulnerability and Preterm Birth Risk Among Infants With Trisomy 21: A Statewide Analysis

Fatima R Sheriff1, Renata H Benjamin1, Qian Xiao1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA.

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|April 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal residence in socially vulnerable areas increases preterm birth (PTB) risk for infants with trisomy 21. This risk is highest for non-Hispanic Black women, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Social determinants of health
  • Genetics and developmental disorders

Background:

  • Socioeconomic vulnerability is linked to higher preterm birth (PTB) rates.
  • Infants with trisomy 21 have a disproportionately higher PTB rate.
  • The impact of social vulnerability on PTB risk in trisomy 21 infants is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal socioeconomic vulnerability and PTB in infants with trisomy 21.
  • To quantify the risk of PTB based on neighborhood-level Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) quartiles.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of infants with trisomy 21 in Texas (1999-2018).
  • Utilized the Texas Birth Defects Registry and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) data.
  • Employed Poisson regression to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

  • A total of 8823 infants were analyzed; 25.7% were born preterm.
  • Living in the highest SVI quartile was associated with increased PTB risk (RR 1.17).
  • The association was more pronounced among non-Hispanic Black women (RR 1.44).

Conclusions:

  • Neighborhood social vulnerability is a significant factor influencing PTB risk in infants with trisomy 21.
  • Findings highlight disparities in perinatal health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
  • Addresses a critical gap in understanding PTB risk factors for trisomy 21 infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
neighbourhood vulnerabilitypreterm birthrace and ethnicitysocial determinants of healthsocial vulnerabilitytrisomy 21

More Related Videos

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

14.4K
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

722

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.2K
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
60
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
59
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
3.9K