Weighing the contributions of material and social area deprivation to preterm birth

► Preterm birth has been linked to material area deprivation, but its relationship with social area deprivation is unclear. ► This analysis suggests that preterm birth is slightly more strongly associated with material than social area deprivation. ► There is little indication that material deprivation modifies the influence of social deprivation on preterm birth. ► Efforts to prevent preterm birth should likely account for both material and social characteristics of residential areas.