In an analysis of 1.3 million births in England, they found a preterm birth rate of 8.8 per 100 births among women living in the most deprived areas, compared with 6.8 per 100 among those in the least deprived areas.
The preterm birth rate among Black women was 8.6 per 100 births, compared with 7.8 per 100 among White women.
The study – led by the University of Bristol as part of Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement - looked at information about births across 130 NHS Trusts in England between 2015 and 2017.
The authors found that even within individual NHS Trusts, preterm birth rates varied between women from different ethnic groups.
In some cases, Trusts that reported below-average preterm birth rates among White women and birthing people also recorded above-average rates among Black and Asian women and birthing people.
Dr Erik Lenguerrand, a senior author on the paper, said the reasons for disparities were ‘not fully understood’.
“Socioeconomic and/or ethnic inequalities are likely to be responsible for some of these inequalities in preterm birth in England, but the Health Trust of birth plays a leading role in the inequity of health care being delivered.
“Disparities in preterm birth could be reduced by targeting populations that have higher than average rates of preterm birth as early as possible in the antenatal care pathway.”
Overall, around 1 in every 13 babies in the UK is born preterm – that is, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The Government acknowledged recently it was not on track to meet the target of reducing the preterm birthrate to 6% in England by 2025.
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, said:
“Premature birth can have life-changing consequences, leaving children at higher risk of long-term complications including learning disabilities, hearing problems and visual impairment.
“As this study shows very starkly, people from minoritised ethnic groups in the UK and those living in the most deprived areas are more likely to experience premature birth, contributing to a damaging cycle of health inequalities.
“We are determined to reduce those disparities through our research into the causes of preterm birth, and by translating our findings into treatments that will stop babies being born too soon.”
The researchers who produced the study now plan to analyse the data for insights into preterm birth rates among women going through their first pregnancy.
