The nation's premature birth rate worsened for the first time in eight years, earning a "C" grade on the latest March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. The report also indicated significant disparities in premature birth rates across different races and ethnicities, according to a news release.
The U.S. premature birth rate rose from 9.57 to 9.63 in 2015, according to final data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Nationwide, premature birth rates were nearly 48 percent higher among black women and more than 15 percent higher among American Indian/Alaska Native women compared to white women.
More specifically, seven states — Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin — received worse marks this year than last year on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, according to a news release. Four states — New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and Washington — earned an "A" on the 2016 Premature Birth Report Card; 16 states received a "B"; 21 states and Washington, D.C., got a "C"; six states and Puerto Rico got a "D"; and three states — Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi — received an "F."
The report card provides rates and grades for states and counties in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, based on NCHS data. March of Dimes also features a disparity index score that ranks and tracks states on efforts they've made to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in premature birth, according to a news release. Maine ranked first on the disparity index score, while Hawaii ranked 50th.
"The 2016 March of Dimes Report Card demonstrates that there is an unfair burden of premature birth among specific racial and ethnic groups as well as geographic areas," Jennifer L. Howse, MD, president of the March of Dimes, said in a statement. "The March of Dimes strives for a world where every baby has a fair chance, yet we see this is not the reality for many mothers and babies. Babies in this country have different chances of surviving and thriving simply based on the circumstances of their birth."
In response to the recent report card findings, Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, PhD, March of Dimes CMO, called for broader use of proven interventions in the most-challenged communities.