While some investigators suggest that black preterm infants may
have a higher rate of necrotizing enterocolitis, how the maternal
health status during pregnancy contributes requires further investigation.1
While there are some studies that show higher rates of NEC in
black preterm infants, this frequently is attributed to the increased
rate of preterm birth and delivery of low-birthweight infants by black
women.6,7,33 Black women continue to have the highest rates of low
birthweight and lower gestational age births of any racial group