Nisha Hodge

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Keywords

Preterm Birth, African Americans, Women, Pregnancy, Prenatal Care

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Preterm birth (PTB) is the birth of an infant less than 37 weeks old. It is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5. In the US, 9.6% of all births are preterm, but for African Americans the risk for having a preterm birth is 16-18%. The disproportionate rates of PTB among African American women have both biological and social influences. African American women’s distinctive vaginal biomes and predisposition to infection and pro-inflammatory response reveal genetic influences for determining increased risk for PTB. Genomic sequencing and methods of elucidating DNA methylation sites associated with preterm birth are novel approaches and with further research will be able provide biological measures of identifying the risk of PTB. Socioeconomic factors or lack thereof, such as access to prenatal care and education level, racial discrimination, and dangerous social and structural environments endured by African American women can increase stress levels increasing their risk of PTB. Prevention methods for preterm birth are still equivocal. Further elucidation of social factors and gene-environment interactions must be pursued to understand the syndromic nature of preterm birth fully, as well as to develop prevention strategies for African American women.

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