Preterm Births

In Black Women

What is Preterm Birth?

To start off Preterm Birth occurs when …………•an infant is born more than three weeks before the “due date.”

This may come with multiple complications which may be life threatening to the baby

•But there are treatment to ensure the babies health like….

-tube feeding-Close watch-Surgery-Medicine-Ventilators-Oxygen tube-Breast Milk 2

PRETERM CHARTLate preterm born between 34 and 37 weeks

Very preterm, born at less than 32 weeks

Extremely preterm born at less than 25 weeks

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Causes:

• Babies can be born early when their mothers….

a)Drink, smoke or use drugs

b)Have poor nutrition

c)Had any type of physical injury or trauma

During the pregnancy

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What is a Health Disparity?

• "Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States."

• – National Institutes of Health

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The Disparity:

• African American women are 50% more likely to have a premature babies then their Caucasian correspondents.

The 2007 preterm birth rate for non-Hispanic black infants was 59% higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white infants and 49% higher than the rate for Hispanic infants.

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Let’s break that down……

• Incidence: Frequency of occurrence

• Prevalence: Widespread

• So…… Basically a health disparity is a disadvantage a certain ethic group, usually minorities, have compared to the general population.

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Why?

• There is no known reason for higher rates of premature infants in the African American community.

• Though there no known reasons, but it’s highly probable that these causes contribute greatly.

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Low Income,Health

Complications&

Actions

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Income

Could Not See a Doctor Due to Costs: (Worcester County)

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Nutrition:

• In Massachusetts black adults are 43% more likely to be more obese than White adults. (2011)

• In Massachusetts, 18.6% of women of childbearing age were obese in 2011

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Statistics/Graph

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Stress:

• “So how does racism get “under the skin” and affect pregnancy? Researchers believe that chronic stress is the culprit: unequal treatment triggers anxiety and the release of stress hormones, which over a lifetime of constant activation not only creates wear and tear on the body’s organs and systems, but during pregnancy, results in overload – and premature labor. “ - Unnaturalcauses.org

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Current News/ Prevention

• Exercise Lowers Pregnancy Risks-

• “In a study, researchers found that light exercise such as walking lowered the levels of a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood of pregnant women during their second trimester. High levels of CRP have been linked to gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnant women).”

• http://www.runnersworld.com/womens-running/exercise-lowers-pregnancy-risks

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Conclusion Do not consume illicit

drugs You should never be

smoking during your pregnancy.

Avoid Alcohol Have a balance Nutritional

diet Strain away from stressful

situations. Stay away from fast food

restaurants.

Visit your primary care doctor as much as possible.

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References• http://www.fccc.edu/prevention/hchd/what-is-hchd.html

• http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/reports/CHDIR11/FactSheets/PretermBirth.pdf

• Medlineplus.com

• Masschip.com

• Cdc.gov

• http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/pdflib/195/25.PDF

• http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/community-health/mass-in-motion/obesity-stats/

• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC144845/

• http://udini.proquest.com/preview/maternal-hypertension-as-a-risk-goid:220509879/

• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › ... › Am J Public Health › v.94(12); Dec 2004

• www.mayoclinic.com/health/premature-birth/DS00137

• www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/premature-infant-overview

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