Preterm births in the U.S. proved the be the lowest in 15 years this year, but it still did not meet the March of Dimes Foundation's goal; earning it a "C" in their grade book.
Individually, Alaska, California, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Vermont met the organizations 9.6 percent goal, earning them an "A," a March of Dimes Foundation news release reported.
"The purpose of the report card is to raise awareness about the problem of premature birth among the public and professionals, and raise awareness about actions that our nation can take to prevent it. Grading states - and providing information about potential contributing factors - highlights where there are opportunities for progress," Siobhan Dolan, M.D., M.P.H., an obstetrician-gynecologist and clinical geneticist who serves as a medical advisor to March of Dimes told Headlines and Global News in an email.
The U.S. has the highest preterm birth rate out of the industrialized countries. Preterm births not only complicate what should be a healthy start to life, but also cost businesses 12 times more than a healthy birth would.
"Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon have higher rates of death and disability than full-term babies," Dolan told HNGN. "The mortality rate for babies born at 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy is three times that of babies born full-term, 39 and 40 weeks of pregnancy."
America's preterm birth rates were at their highest in 2006 at 12.8 percent, by 2012 those statistics had improved by 10 percent. According to Dolan there have been 176,000 fewer babies born too soon because of the decrease in preterm birth rates, which may have saved $9 billion in "medical and societal costs."
The 2012 data showed preterm birth rate among non-Hispanic black infants to be the highest, at 16.5 percent; the rate had improved since being at 18.5 in 2006.
The statistical gap between African Americans and Caucasians has narrowed, but non-Hispanic blacks still have over 1.5 times the preterm birth rate of non-Hispanic whites.
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are at a higher risk of "breathing problems, jaundice, developmental delays, vision loss and cerebral palsy," the news release reported.
"Many more premature births could be prevented with proven interventions for women at risk of premature birth and best practices in hospitals and birthing centers," Dolan told HNGN.
Dolan listed ways the rates could be improved, such as: women getting checkups before deciding to get pregnant; going to all prenatal care appointments; not scheduling early deliveries before 39 weeks; and working on general health like not smoking and getting exercise.
Dolan said businesses could assess their health care costs and provide programs for their employees that encourage health baby deliveries. Hospitals could also focus on programs that work to lower the premature birth rate.
