March 12, 1999

Web posted at: 11:38 AM EST (1638 GMT)

ATLANTA (AP) -- The rate of single-born premature babies among black women decreased nearly 10 percent between 1989 to 1996 but increased 8 percent among whites, government researchers say.

Premature births dropped from 180.4 per 1,000 live births among black women in 1989 to 162.5 in 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The rate among whites climbed from 74.8 to 80.8.

Despite the narrowing of the racial gap, black babies are still nearly twice as likely to be born premature than white ones, the CDC said.

The researchers said they were unable to explain the changes.

"We hope it reflects things such as improved health status among African American women in general and possibly improved access to prenatal care," said Dr. Lucinda England, a CDC epidemiologist.

The rate dropped 3.6 percent among Hispanics, 2.8 percent among American Indians and Native Alaskans and 2.3 percent among Asians and Pacific Islanders.

The figures include medically induced births, but England said such births played only a small role in the increase among whites. Part of the reason for the increase among white women was a jump in the birth rate of infants born at 33 to 36 weeks.

Overall, the U.S. rate of premature single births inched up 0.3 percent to 97.3 per 1,000 live births. There was a 19 percent jump among premature multiple births.

Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are interested in additional information, or would like to set up a Families Worldwide Chapter in your community, please feel free to contact us via e-mail.

Families Worldwide
75 East Fort Union Blvd.
Salt Lake City, UT 84047
USA

Fax us: USA 801/562-6008,
or Call us: USA 801/562-6185

Send comments and suggestions to Webmaster