To support that notion he cited sickle cell anemia, a genetic condition more
common in blacks than whites. Carriers of two genes for the condition are at a
handicap, but it has been found that the presence of a single sickle cell gene
protects the carrier against malaria, Muglia noted.
“I’m not sure it really gives us definitive answers,” said Dr. Diane Ashton,
deputy medical director of the March of Dimes. “But it is one aspect that the
March of Dimes is looking at to assess the differences in premature births.”
There have been hints of a genetic factor, Ashton added, citing a study
indicating that black women were more susceptible to early rupture of the
membranes.
“There is some evidence here, but this is one study, and until we have some
reproducible results I don’t think we can base our final opinion on just one
study,” she said.
A 2006 report by the U.S. Institute of Medicine found that 12.5 percent of
American babies were born at least three weeks ahead of their full-term delivery
date. Care for those babies costs the nation $26 billion a year, with some
requiring neonatal intensive care for two weeks.
Potential problems for premature babies include hearing loss, vision loss,
cerebral palsy and seizures. Such problems are most common in babies born before
32 weeks of pregnancy.
More information
For more on premature babies, consult the March of Dimes.
By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter
SOURCES: Louis J. Muglia, M.D., Ph.D, director, Washington University Center
for Preterm Birth Research, St. Louis; Diane Ashton, M.D., deputy medical
director, March of Dimes; February 2007 American Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynecology
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All
rights reserved.
Black Moms Face Triple the Risk of ‘Preemie’ Birth was originally published on blackdoctor.org
