For decades now, according to a study in the May 2007, American Journal of Public Health, black infants have been four times more likely to be born before 28 weeks gestation, than white infants have. These extremely pre-term babies have a much greater risk of not surviving than babies carried longer, in fact pre-term birth accounts for one third of all infant deaths. This factor helps to explain the mortality gap that exists in the United States between African American infants and Caucasian infants. Researches estimate that the deaths of pre-term infants account for up to 60 percent of the infant mortality gap that exist between African Americans and Caucasians.

• Premature(less than 37 weeks gestation)


• Full term(37 to 42 weeks gestation)


• Post term(born after 42 weeks gestation)

Researches don’t really know why racial disparity exist among pre-term births and little is known about the causes of preterm birth overall. However, researches do know that the education level of the birth mothers is not a factor. They can surmise that social and environmental factors play a part in producing the disparities that exists in pre-term births.

Some health conditions and events affecting the birth mother, which may contribute to pre-term labor are preeclampsia, kidney disease, diabetes, infection, heart disease, lack of prenatal care, poor nutrition, substance abuse, and a birth mother younger than 18. Other factors that can contribute to pre-term labor are, previous pre-term delivery, unexplained high alpha-fetoprotein level in the second trimester, untreated disease or infection (such as urinary tract infection or infection of the amniotic membranes), problems with the uterus or cervix, multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.), and premature rupture of the membranes or placenta previa.

Of babies born at 28 weeks, approximately 80% survive. However, there is a much higher risk of developmental delays and other problems among extremely pre-term infants who survive. The organs in premature infants are not fully-grown. Therefore, these infants require special care in the nursery until their organ systems develop enough to keep them alive without medical support.

Common problems affecting premature infants are respiratory problems, episodes of apnea, poor feeding, weak cry, low body temperature, bleeding into the brain, Retinopathy, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), Heart disease, Severe intestinal inflammation, Jaundice, infection or septicemia, Anemia, Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), Delayed growth and development, and mental-motor retardation.

Remember that it is impossible to predict the individual, long-term outcome, for one baby based solely on gestational age or birth weight. One study found no overall disabilities in 12 percent of those born at 23 weeks gestation, 14 percent of those born at 24 weeks, and 24 percent of those born at 25 weeks gestation. Cerebral palsy affected 20 percent of the preterm group.

President Bush signed a bill in December of 2006 called the "PREEMIE" Act (S. 707) into law calling for a public-private effort to prevent preterm births. The bill authorized increased federal support for research and education on prematurity. The Surgeon General along with scientific and clinical experts from the public and private sectors will formulate a national action agenda of prevention strategies to reduce the occurrences of preterm labor and delivery.

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