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The risk for recurrence of premature births to African-American and white women

E Ekwo1, A Moawad

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois, USA.

Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians : the Official Publication of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians
|May 20, 1998
PubMed

Insights

African American women have higher preterm birth rates than white women. Recurrence of preterm birth is common, especially for African American women after their first or second pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Perinatal Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a significant concern in maternal and infant health.
  • Existing data suggest racial disparities in preterm birth rates, with African Americans experiencing higher rates than whites.
  • The recurrence risk of preterm birth, particularly across different pregnancies and racial groups, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that both initial and recurrent preterm birth rates are higher for African Americans compared to whites.
  • To define the recurrence risk of preterm birth in relation to previous pregnancy outcomes.
  • To identify specific populations at higher risk for recurrent preterm birth.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study was conducted involving African-American and white women delivering singleton infants between 1988 and 1993.
  • Inclusion criteria included known reproductive history, delivery of at least two singletons, and no planned abortions, miscarriages, or induced preterm labor.
  • Preterm birth was defined as delivery at less than 37 completed weeks of gestation.

Main Results:

  • The overall preterm birth rate was significantly higher for African Americans (24.5%) than for whites (11.1%).
  • Among African Americans, the preterm birth rate for the second pregnancy (30.6%) was significantly higher than for the first (18.2%).
  • Recurrence accounted for a substantial proportion of preterm births, with higher rates observed in African American women after the second pregnancy (68% vs. 41.7% in white women).

Conclusions:

  • Preterm births are common for both African Americans and whites within the first two pregnancies.
  • African-American women with a history of preterm birth in their first or second pregnancy need targeted management strategies to prevent recurrence.
  • Addressing racial disparities in preterm birth and understanding recurrence patterns are crucial for improving perinatal outcomes.

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