From the ArcaMax Publishing, Women Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/women/s-564012-369895
SEATTLE (UPI) -- Prepregnancy depression appears to be a risk factor
in preterm birth among both black and white mothers, U.S. researchers
said.
Amelia Gavin of the University of Washington said black women,
however, have nearly two times the odds of having a preterm birth
compared to white women.
"Preterm births are one of the most significant health disparities in
the United States and the overall number of these births increased
from 10.6 percent in 2000 to 12.8 percent in 2005," Gavin said in a
statement.
For this study, premature birth was defined as any child born after
less than 37 weeks of gestation.
Normal gestation ranges from 38-42 weeks. Data for the study was drawn
from a larger longitudinal investigation looking at the risks for
cardiovascular disease among more than 5,000 young adults in four
metropolitan areas.
The study, published in the Journal of Women's Health, found 18.1
percent of the black women had a preterm birth compared to 8.5 percent
of the white women.
This difference may be the result of what she calls "weathering," or
accelerated declines in health due to repeated socioeconomic and
political factors.