Richard David ^1* James Collins, Jr. ²

¹ University of Illinois at Chicago
² Northwestern University

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rdavid{at}uic.edu.

	Abstract

Since 1950, dramatic advances in human genetics have occurred, racial disparities in infant mortality have widened, and the United States’ international ranking in infant mortality has deteriorated. The quest for a "preterm birth gene" to explain racial differences is now under way.

Scores of papers linking polymorphisms to preterm birth have appeared in the past few years. Is this strategy likely to reduce racial disparities? We reviewed broad epidemiological patterns that call this approach into question.

Overall patterns of racial disparities in mortality and secular changes in rates of prematurity as well as birthweight patterns in infants of African immigrant populations contradict the genetic theory of race and point toward social mechanisms. We postulate that a causal link to class disparities in health exists.

Key Words: Health Policy, Birth Outcomes, African Americans/Blacks, Race/Ethnicity, Mortality

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. M. Adams and W. D. Barfield The Future of Very Preterm Infants: Learning From the Past JAMA, March 26, 2008; 299(12): 1477 - 1478. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. L. Hebert, J. E. Sisk, and E. A. Howell When Does A Difference Become A Disparity? Conceptualizing Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Health Health Aff., March 1, 2008; 27(2): 374 - 382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]