Genes may play bigger preemie birth role

Genetics may play a greater role than previously thought in accounting for black women's higher rate of premature births, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found.

Experts have long attributed the racial disparity in part to poverty, disparate access to medical care and other environmental factors.

But when the St. Louis researchers adjusted for age, education level, medical and socio-economic factors, black women still had higher rates of premature births and recurrence.