Health Topics

A preterm birth is the birth of a baby that occurs less than 37 weeks after a birthing mother’s pregnancy. Premature births are the leading cause of newborn deaths and can lead to lifelong health issues, including chronic disease, learning disabilities, and behavioral health issues. According to March of Dimes, Black women are twice as likely than White women to have a preterm birth relating to sociodemographic factors, psychosocial factors, behavioral influences, and pregnancy conditions. According to March of Dimes, in 2021, preterm birth rates for Black mothers increased from 14.4 % to 14.7 %, and over 21.1 % of black mothers in the United States do not receive adequate prenatal care. According to SFDPH MCAH data, between 2019-2021, preterm births among mothers who identified as Black/African American was 13% of the total pregnancies within San Francisco. The rate was higher than the other races.