View source for Conservapedia talk:Does the high abortion rate among African Americans explain the quadruple extreme premature birth risk among the same population?

Do prior induced abortions increase Black American Women's risk of
a future preterm or extremely premature baby?  The responder informs
us (accurately) that 35% of U.S. IAs (Induced Abortions) are performed on
Black Americans.  Since BAW (Black American Women) constitute roughly
13% of the U.S. female population, clearly, anyone with elementary
math skills realizes that 13% partaking in 35% of the total number
of abortions is very disproportionate.

Is there only ONE (1) risk factor for preterm birth?  "No way, Jose".
One and all are cordially invited to read Professor Barbara Luke's
1995 classic book (endorsed by the truly great Dr. Emile Papiernik):
Every Pregnant Women's Guide to Preventing Premature Birth.  Prof.
Luke (currently at U. Miami) lists 60 'preemie' risk factors. (More 
risk factors will come to light in the future)

As to gum infections. Yes, there are studies linking gum infections
to higher preterm birth risk.  Now, it has also come to my 'inattention'
that there are studies linking ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE use to higher
risk of peridontal disease (aka gum infection).  Thus, one item for
future researche: Does long term use of OCs (Oral Contraceptives)
increase the risk of EARLY PRETERM BIRTH (birth under 32.0 weeks' gestation)?

== ridiculous question ==

Why does this target target African American women? I think that is disgusting. I don't even know if this "fact" is even true. Furthermore, there should be an entire analysis of women and the premature risks among ALL women before women OF ANY RACE who have had abortions are targeted. As far as I'm concerned, I know plenty of women who have had premature pregnanices without a history of abortion.

Response by Brent Rooney to 'Mr. Ridiculous Question'

Are Black American Women (BAW) being targeted for higher risk of premature birth via elective
induced abortions?  Let's deal with facts, since 'Mr. Ridiculous Question' provided no 
references for any of his assertions.  According to a 24 November 2006 report from the
CDC (Centers for Disease Control), BAW had 37.1% of all induced abortions in the U.S. in
2003; URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5511a1.htm?s_cid=ss5511a1_e .    
Since Black Women represent about 13% of the U.S. population, that means that BAW are
3.9 times as likely to have an induced abortion as non-Black Women ( (37.1/13)/(62.9/87) ).

How would one know if IAs (Induced Abortions) elevated a Black American Woman's risk of
a future preterm birth?  One would compare the 'preemie' risk of BAW with prior induced
abortions compared to the 'preemie' risk of BAW with zero prior IAs.  This was done
in 1987 by Harvard researchers headed by Ellice Lieberman and published in the New
England Journal of Medicine.  BAW with more than one prior IA had 1.91 times the odds of
having a preterm delivery compared to BAW with zero prior IAs.

The overwhelming evidence to support the APB (Abortion Preterm Birth) risk was presented
in the May 2003 'Rooney/Calhoun' APB summary article in the Journal of American Physicians
and Surgeons; URL: http://www.jpands.org/vol8no2/rooney.pdf  .  There is no time limit
to challenging the Rooney/Calhoun summary via a 'letter to the editor' ( editor@jpands.org ).
Never in 47 months (since May 2003) has Rooney/Calhoun been challenged.

As to the claim of 'Mr. Ridiculous Question' that he knows women who delivered preemies
but who did NOT have a prior abortion:  this is as enlightening as saying that he
knows men who have suffered heart attacks but were NOT cigarette smokers.  Smoking increases
heart attack risk, but smoking is hardly the only risk factor for heart attacks.  According
to reproductive health expert Prof. Barbara Luke, there are about 5 dozen premature birth
risk factors (Every Pregnant Woman's Guide to Preventing Premature Birth, 1995).

Why anyone would turn a blind eye (including Jesse Jackson) to the higher risk of a Black
American Woman delivering a newborn with cerebral palsy or mental retardation via prior
elective induced abortions, is hard to fathom?