Project Information
> About Born in Bradford
Bradford is a friendly, exciting and diverse city
and has grown to be the fifth biggest in the UK. But
reports have highlighted that the city's health is a
cause for concern. Particularly worrying is that
Bradford's infant mortality rate - the number of
babies who die before they reach their first
birthday - is amongst the highest in the country.
Bradford has a population of about half a million
and includes areas that are amongst the most
deprived in the UK. 60% of babies born in the city
are born into the poorest 20% of the population of
England and Wales.
Infant mortality in Bradford has been consistently
above national averages, peaking in 2003 at 9.4
deaths per 1000 live births; almost double the
national average (5.5 deaths per 1000 live births
for the same year).
The causes of infant mortality and other problems
facing Bradford's babies - such as low birth weight
- are not well understood. If we knew more, we would
be able to identify people at increased risk and
maybe offer new treatments.
Illnesses affecting people later in life, such as
diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are thought to
be influenced by factors in pregnancy and childhood
- again, we urgently need to learn more to be able
to find health and social interventions to treat
them more effectively.
This is why from March 2007 to December 2010 all
pregnant women coming to Bradford Royal Infirmary
for a routine ante natal appointment were asked to
join the Born in Bradford study. More than 80% of
women said ‘yes’ and now there are over 13,500
babies whose health is being tracked from pregnancy
through childhood and into adult life.
As well as the valuable data given by the mothers
and the 25% of fathers who joined the study, many of
them also gave biological samples (blood, urine and
saliva) which are currently being stored at BRI in
massive freezers. The information gathered is now
being analysed to shed light on why some people
become ill and others do not.
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