The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just released a report highlighting the disparity in infant mortality among Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic black women due to pre-term birth.

Data show that the percentage of infant deaths from preterm-related causes increased from 34.6% in 2000 to 36.5% in 2004. Nearly half (46.3%) of the deaths of infants of non-Hispanic black mothers were preterm related in 2004, compared with 32.1% of the deaths of infants of non-Hispanic white mothers and 33.4% of the deaths of infants of Hispanic mothers.

During 2000—2004, the percentage of infants born preterm increased in the United States, from 11.6% of all births in 2000 to 12.5% in 2004.

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