UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative

The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative lives at the intersection of research, community partnerships and education to create positive change for black and brown parents. 

Our mission is to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth and improve health outcomes for babies born too soon, through research, partnerships and education grounded in community wisdom. We believe all parents deserve healthy pregnancies, and all newborns deserve healthy starts in life.

The stark reality of preterm birth in California is one of inequity. While 1 in 12 babies are born too soon, the rate of preterm birth among Black women is 47 percent higher than the rate among all other women. We assert that structural and interpersonal racism along with other key social determinants are important drivers of an epidemic that disproportionately affects women of color in our state, and nationally. Learn more about how with our partners we're tackling this issue: https://pretermbirthca.ucsf.edu/about.