The Unites States preterm birth rate reached the Healthy People 2020 goal seven years early.
The national preterm birth rate fell to 11.4 percent on 2013, which is the lowest rate in 17 years, the March of Dimes Foundation reported. Despite this progress the U.S. still recevied a "C" on the seventh annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card because it fell short of the more-challenging 9.6 percent target set by the March of Dimes,
"Achieving the Healthy People 2020 goal is reason for celebration, but the U.S. still has one of the highest rates of preterm birth of any high resource country and we must change that," said March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse. "We are investing in a network of five prematurity research centers to find solutions to this still too-common, costly, and serious problem."
In 2013 more than 450,000 babies were born premature in 2013, compared to 542,893 in 2006, when the preterm birth rate was at its peak. The March of Dimes has estimated 231,000 fewer babies have been born preterm due to recent interventions, and about $11.9 billion in healthcare and other costs has been saved.
On the 2014 Report Card 27 states showed an improvement in preterm birth rates since 2012 and 2013. The states that earned the highest grade of an "A" were Iowa, Virginia, Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma. Twenty states earned a "B" grade and another 20 states receieved a "C," while only two states and the District of Columbia got a "D"; three states and Puerto Rico recieved the lowest "F" grade.
The recent review also found 30 states and the District of Columbia reduced their rates of uninsured women; 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reduced their rates of women of childbearing age who smoked; and 30 states and Puerto Rico lowered the rate of babies born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation.
