The disparity of preterm births

A preterm birth — before 37 weeks of gestation or pregnancy — is the most significant cause of infant mortality. The percentage of preterm births in black women was more than 61 and 72 percent greater than in Latinos and whites, respectively, and more than two times greater than in Asian women.

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The percentage of low birth weights among blacks increases as the birth weight decreases. For very low birth weights — less than 3.4 pounds — the percentage among blacks is more than twice that in whites and Latinos and more than three times that in Asians.