Premature births an increasing problem

Premature birth is the most common and serious infant health problem in the United States, according to a Feb 3, 2004, news release from the March of Dimes. The number of premature births (ie, occurring at fewer than 37 weeks gestation) increased 13% nationwide between 1992 and 2002 to a record high of 480,812. The premature birth rate has increased 29% since 1981.

Data from a report from the National Center for Health Statistics also include that

* African-American infants were nearly twice as likely as nonHispanic Caucasian infants to be born prematurely in 2002;

* infants born with low birthweights (ie, less than 5.5 lbs) increased from 7.7% in 2001 to 7.8% in 2002; and

* multiple births increased from 3.2% to 3.3%. States with the highest premature birth rates per percentage of live births include

* Alaska (15.8%),

* Louisiana (15.1%),

* the District of Columbia (14.6%), and

* South Carolina (14.2%).

States that experienced an increased premature birth rate by more than 30% between 1992 and 2002 include

* Massachusetts (38%),

* Maine (35%),

* Nebraska (34%), and

* Hawaii (33%).

The March of Dimes is beginning the second year of a five-year campaign to address the increasing premature birth rate. The $75 million campaign supports research into the causes of premature birth and educates women about its signs and symptoms. A goal of the campaign is to reduce the premature birth rate by 15% by 2007.

Premature Birth Rate in US Reaches Historic High; Now Up 29 Percent Since 1981 (news release, The March of Dimes, Feb 3, 2004) http://www.prnewswire.com (accessed 3 Feb 2004).

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