Prevalence of Low Birth Weight and Preterm Delivery in Relation to the Interval between Pregnancies among White and Black Women

In the United States, mortality among black infants is currently twice that among white infants. 1 This disparity is strongly linked to the two-to-threefold greater prevalence of low birth weight and prematurity among black infants. 2 Mortality directly attributable to low birth weight and preterm delivery occurs 4.5 times more frequently among black infants than among white infants. 1 These disparities in pregnancy outcome have been attributed in large part to wide differences between the races in socioeconomic status and the associated effects on maternal health and access to preventive health care. 3 – 6 These demographic differences are greatly attenuated among U.S. military personnel . . .