U.S. gets 'D' on prematurity rate

Pediatric News, Dec, 2008 by Jane Anderson

The United States received a "D" on the Premature Birth Report Card issued recently by the March of Dimes. The report card compares actual preterm birth rates in each state with the national Healthy People 2010 objectives set by the federal government. The Healthy People 2010 goal is to lower preterm birth to 7.6% of all live births, while data from 2005 shows that the national preterm birth rate is 12.7%.

No state earned an "A" and only one state--Vermont--earned a grade of "B." Eight states received a "C," 23 received a "D," and 18 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia received failing grades. "It is unacceptable that our nation is failing so many preterm babies," Jennifer U Howse, Ph.D., president of the March of Dimes, said in a statement. "We are determined to find and implement solutions to prevent preterm birth, based on research, best clinical practices, and improved education for moms." This is the first year that the March of Dimes has issued the prematurity report card, but it is expected to continue on an annual basis. In addition to rating state performance, the report card also calls on hospital officials to review all births by cesarean section and inductions of labor that occur before 39 weeks" gestation as a strategy to help curb preterm births.