• Paula A Braveman, Katherine Heck, Susan Egerter, Kristen S Marchi, Tyan Parker Dominguez, Catherine Cubbin, Kathryn Fingar, Jay A Pearson, and Michael Curtis.
• Paula A. Braveman, Katherine Heck, Susan Egerter, and Kristen S. Marchi are with the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center on Social Disparities in Health, University of California, San Francisco. Tyan Parker Dominguez is with Virtual Academic Center, University of Southern California School of Social Work, Los Angeles. Catherine Cubbin is with Population Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin. Jay A. Pearson is with Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC. Michael Curtis is, and at the time of the study, Kathryn Fingar was with Surveillance, Assessment and Program Development Section, Epidemiology, Assessment and Program Development Branch, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento.
• Am J Public Health. 2015 Apr 1; 105 (4): 694-702.

ObjectivesWe investigated the role of socioeconomic factors in Black-White disparities in preterm birth (PTB).MethodsWe used the population-based California Maternal and Infant Health Assessment survey and birth certificate data on 10 400 US-born Black and White California residents who gave birth during 2003 to 2010 to examine rates and relative likelihoods of PTB among Black versus White women, with adjustment for multiple socioeconomic factors and covariables.ResultsGreater socioeconomic advantage was generally associated with lower PTB rates among White but not Black women. There were no significant Black-White disparities within the most socioeconomically disadvantaged subgroups; Black-White disparities were seen only within more advantaged subgroups.ConclusionsSocioeconomic factors play an important but complex role in PTB disparities. The absence of Black-White disparities in PTB within certain socioeconomic subgroups, alongside substantial disparities within others, suggests that social factors moderate the disparity. Further research should explore social factors suggested by the literature-including life course socioeconomic experiences and racism-related stress, and the biological pathways through which they operate-as potential contributors to PTB among Black and White women with different levels of social advantage.

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