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March of Dimes 2017 Report Card Shows
Premature Birth Rate Has Grown Worse for Second Straight Year
PRE-TERM BIRTH IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG BABIES
Preterm birth is a national health crisis that has grown worse for a second year in a row, driven by many factors, according to the 10th annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. The Report Card serves as a wake-up call to focus on the health conditions of our nation’s moms and babies, and the need for bolder action at state and city levels.
Latest data show the U.S. preterm birth rate rose to 9.8 percent in 2016, an increase of 2 percent over the previous year. Preterm birth rates worsened in 43 states. This is especially alarming because it is the second consecutive setback after years of steady improvement. This year’s Report Card also reveals major racial/ethnic and geographic disparities, signifying that some babies have a higher chance of a preterm birth based simply on their race and zip code. And, while race is not a cause of preterm birth, African-American/black women have a 49 percent higher preterm rate when compared to white women. Nearly a quarter of all preterm births in the United States are to Hispanic women. As Hispanics make up the largest and fastest growing racial/ethnic population in the U.S., and babies born to Hispanic mothers are at increased risk of being born prematurely, Hispanic women and their families need greater access to information and services to help them reduce the risk of delivering too soon.
Preterm birth is responsible for 1.1 million infant deaths each year, making it the number one cause of death among children under age 5 worldwide and a leading cause of lifelong disabilities. The March of Dimes is committed to cutting-edge research, education, and advocacy to help prevent the 15 million preterm births recorded globally each year, including about 380,000 in the United States. The March of Dimes envisions a world in which every baby has the opportunity to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, this is not the reality as too many states are failing to make the grade when it comes to protecting vulnerable babies and achieving birth equity for all.
INTERVIEW WITH:
Stacey D. Stewart joined the March of Dimes as its fifth President on January 1, 2017. In this role, Ms. Stewart promotes a global strategy around the organization’s mission to give all babies a health start in life. She is responsible for leading all aspects of the March of Dimes strategy, vision and programs. Ms. Stewart came to March of Dimes from United Way Worldwide, where she held several positions, most recently serving as its U.S. President. She holds an MBA in finance from the University of Michigan and a BA in economics from Georgetown University.(ENGLISH)