The U.S. has seen a sharp rise in preterm births, new research shows The study points to stark racial and economic gaps in prenatal care The rise comes amid increases in risk factors such as diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases FRIDAY, Sept.
27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Over the past decade, rates of preterm birth in the United States jumped more than 10%, a new study of more than 5 million births shows. The rise dovetailed with an increase in some factors that make an early delivery more likely, including rates of , sexually transmitted infections and mental health conditions, along with a corresponding decline in factors that protect against it. Meanwhile, racial and economic disparities persist.
"These patterns and changes in risk factors should be setting off alarm bells," said lead study author , a professor at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Medicine in New York City. Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy have a higher risk for illness, intellectual and emotional difficulty and even death. Factors that have been linked to an increased risk for premature delivery include expectant mothers using tobacco or having diabetes, high blood pressure or an infection.
Longstanding trends linked to years of racism also showed up in the new research. "We found stark differences in terms of what it looks like to be a Black or Native American pregnant person compared with a white individual who is of middle or higher income," said Jelliffe-Pawlowski, who is also a at the .