More Babies Like 5-Year-Old Amanda Reeves Born at Risk for Lifetime Disabilities
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., FEB. 3, 2004 – The number of babies born prematurely (prior to 37 weeks gestation) reached a record high of 480,812 in 2002, according to a new government report. Nationwide, the rate of premature births jumped 13% between 1992 and 2002, with seven states showing increases of 30 percent or more.
"This is alarming news," says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "Premature birth is now the most common, serious and costly infant health problem facing our nation. Last year annual hospitalization of these infants cost $13.6 billion. As a nation we must address this growing crisis in infant health and make it a priority."
Dr. Howse noted that the March of Dimes is beginning the second year of a five-year, $75 million campaign to address the growing rate of premature birth. The campaign works to educate women on the signs and symptoms of premature birth, and to support more research into the causes. One of the goals of the campaign is to reduce the rate of premature birth by 15 percent by 2007.
Amanda Reeves, now aged 5, of Greenville, S.C., was born 14 weeks early, weighing just 1 pound, 7 ounces. She was so tiny that her dad, Bill, could slip his wedding ring over her hand to her shoulder. Today, her mom, Michele, wears that ring as a constant reminder of the struggle that Amanda and other premature babies face just to survive. Amanda spent three months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before going home. "Though our story has a happy ending, there are still uncertainties about Amanda's future," says Michele Reeves. "Babies born prematurely often suffer terrible lifelong consequences."
Amanda was recently named the 2004 National Ambassador for the March of Dimes. This year, Amanda will travel with her parents throughout the nation to raise public awareness of the need for Americans to come together to fight the rising tide of premature births.
Other data from the new report from the National Center for Health Statistics:
- The premature birth rate in 2002 rose to 12.1 percent of live births, up from 11.9 percent in 2001.
- African-American infants were nearly twice as likely as non-Hispanic white infants to be born prematurely in 2002 – rates for both these groups increased from 2001.
- Infants born low birthweight (less than 5.5 pounds) increased slightly from 7.7 percent of live births in 2001 to 7.8 percent in 2002.
- Multiple births (twins, triplets and higher) increased slightly from 3.2 percent to 3.3 percent of live births. This represents an increase in the twin birth rate and a slight decrease in the triplet and higher order birth rate.
For state-specific information on the rate of premature births, log on to marchofdimes.com/peristats. You can also learn more about the signs and symptoms and the risks of prematurity, by visiting marchofdimes.com or our Spanish Web site at nacerano.org.
