Prenatal ​Disparities

The goal of The Vitamin Bridge is to assist low income/disadvantaged women at the very earliest stage in their pregnancy by providing prenatal vitamins free of charge at their first visit to a pregnancy center or health clinic. ​ It is well-documented that early prenatal care, including prenatal vitamins, can decrease the incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight and birth defects, and improve the overall health and outcomes in pregnancy (1)(2).

Volunteer with us to help disadvantaged, expectant moms receive prenatal vitamins!

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According to The March of Dimes, premature birth and its complications are the largest contributors to infant death in the United States. Factors such as poverty, lack of insurance and inadequate prenatal care are linked to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes overall.  For example, The March of Dimes latest data shows that in 2020, there were 3,462 preterm births in Dallas county, representing 9.6% of live births. The rate of preterm birth in Dallas county is highest for black infants (13.5%), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (9.9%), Hispanics (9.2%), whites (8.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (7.7%).
The 2022 March of Dimes report card gives Texas a grade of D-, with a rate of 11.4% preterm births (3).  Preterm births carry emotional and financial burdens for the individuals, families, and communities affected. In 2016, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth in the United States was at least $25.2 billion.(4).

Every $5 given provides a 100-day supply of prenatal vitamins to one mom-to-be in need.

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Statistics from March of Dimes show that the  preterm birth rates in Texas have consistently been higher than the national average over the past decade.  There are substantial racial and ethnic disparities in Texas in the preterm birth rate as well as in infant mortality rate and in serious maternal morbidity.  As with infant mortality rate and preterm births, African American mothers have a disproportionally high percentage of low birth weight infants.

This study also states that “substantial racial and ethnic disparities in the preterm birth rate existed. Non-Hispanic Black infants had a higher preterm birth rate than infants of any other racial or ethnic group.” The study goes on to suggest increasing education to these populations of mothers about the importance of early prenatal care (5). Prenatal vitamins are a crucial part of a prenatal program, as is nutrition and medical care to diagnose or monitor any conditions that might affect the health of the mother and baby.

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1.  Leveno K, McIntire D, Bloom S, Sibley M, Anderson R. (2009). Decreased preterm births in an inner-city public hospital. Obstetrics and Gynecology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19300320.
2.  United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
3.  March of Dimes. 2021 March of Dimes Report Card for Texas. https://marchofdimes.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/2022-MarchofDimes-ReportCard-UnitedStates.pdf. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
4. March of Dimes. A Profile in Prematurity. https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/tools/prematurityprofile.aspx?reg=48. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
5. 2021 Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies Data Book. Austin, TX: Division for Community Health Improvement, Texas Department of State Health Services, 2021. Revised in February 2022. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/healthytexasbabies/Documents/2021-Healthy-Texas-Mothers-Babies-Data-Book.pdf

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The Vitamin Bridge

P.O.Box 2843

Coppell, TX 75019

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