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Minorities, Miscarriage, and Poor Health

Women of color are more likely to suffer miscarriage or lose their babies during infancy – even if they seek prenatal care.

Researchers are still trying to determine why that is, but a recent study offers some clues. The March issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology includes new research showing that minority women often have higher rates of pre-existing health conditions – such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity – and tend to smoke more than Caucasian women.

Smoking during pregnancy (by either partner) not only greatly increases the risk of miscarriage, it also reduces fertility. Research also shows it can lead to low birth weight, crib death, childhood asthma and other infant health problems.

According to the most recent study, African American women were more than four times as likely to lose their babies as Caucasian women. Latinas were also at greater risk, losing nearly 16 babies for every 10 infant mortalities among Caucasians.

Since all the women in the study received prenatal care, researchers believe the answers may lie in better management of the mother’s health prior to pregnancy or in environmental factors facing the women during pregnancy.

To see a copy of the study, click here.

To read more about this story, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org