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

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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?

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