Black People Have More Premature Births

 In 2019, nearly 12 percent of Black individuals experienced pre-term births compared with 7 percent of White individuals, according to a new demography paper.

Pre-pregnancy cardiovascular health (obesity, diabetes, hypertension) was the quantifiable difference but the authors also included vague factors like ‘prenatal care’ and ‘education’ – which are all self-reported, and how higher education would improve health outcomes is unclear, but it is certain that a premature birth is a risk factor for negative health outcomes. However, a family that is obese is far more likely to create an environment where poor health creates problems that epidemiologists may want to link to premature birth or skin color – but that is why epidemiology is in the exploratory section of culture rather than the science one.

The data were 2 million individuals who identified as non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Black and had a live birth in 2019. It also utilized data from birth registration records from the National Center for Health Statistics, which collects data on all live births.

Unfortunately, the authors use their data for cultural evangelism. Though the data is 2019, they claim it will be a problem because some who were able to get on an expanded Medicaid during the pandemic of 2020 and now may not stay on it could have more premature births. There is no evidence there is a link. Those who can’t get on Medicaid can still get free Obamacare. Unfortunately, subsidies, mandates, and increased regulations and lawsuits have made doctors place caps on how many patients they will take that don’t have private sector health insurance, which could mean longer waiting periods whether someone has Medicaid or not.

That may all be included in the 70 percent of differences they couldn’t find a way to explain using science or political promotion. It is difficult to know.