When a baby is born, so is a parent: Understanding the effects of preterm birth on Black parents through the lens of the NIMHD framework.

Background: The rate of preterm birth (PTB) is high in the United States and Black infants remain disproportionately affected, with the disparity between Black and White infant deaths greater today than it was under antebellum slavery.

Purpose: The National Institute on Minority Health and Disparities Research Framework reflects a unique set of determinants relevant to the understanding and promotion of minority health.

Methods: We have applied this framework to better understand the effects of PTB on Black parents and the distribution of the social determinants of health, including structural determinants and root causes of inequities.