United States gets 'D' for preterm births

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- In the first of what is promised to be an annual Premature Birth Report Card, the March of Dimes gave the United States a grade of "D, " officials said.

The March of Dimes compared actual preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 objective and found not a single state earned an "A," and the only state to earn a "B" was Vermont. Eight states earned a "C," 23 states earned a "D" and 18 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia got failing grades.

"It is unacceptable that our nation is failing so many preterm babies," Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, 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."

Premature birth -- birth before 37 weeks gestation -- affects more than 530,000 U.S. babies each year and premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disability, Howse said.

The National Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective is to lower the rate to 7.6 percent of all live births. Latest available data -- 2005 -- show that the national preterm birth rate is 12.7 percent.