Preterm prediction study: Is socioeconomic status a risk factor for bacterial vaginosis in black or in white women?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an important risk factor for preterm birth, is a more common infection in Black compared with White pregnant women. Because Black women in the United States are more likely to have lower measures-of socioeconomic status (SES), this study examined the hypothesis that BV is a ssociated with low SES. The project evaluated data from the Preterm Predict ion Study of 2929 women prospectively followed during their pregnancies. Th e women, who were screened for BV at 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, underwen t a structured interview to evaluate demographic factors, SES, home and wor k environment, drug or alcohol use, and prior medical history. Black women in the study had many measures of lower SES compared with the White women, and reported less use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs; In neither the Black n or White women was an association found between BV and measures of SES (wit h the sole exception of "absence of a home telephone"). Most measures of SE S do not explain the difference in rates of BV in Black and in White pregna nt women.