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Indiana Chapter Receives "D" on Prematurity Report Card
17-Nov-09 |
NATION GETS A “D” ; INDIANA RECEIVES “D”
ON MARCH OF DIMES PREMATURE BIRTH REPORT CARD
November 17th is Prematurity Awareness Day
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Nov. 17, 2009)— Indiana is one of only seven states that got a better grade on the second annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card – earning a “D”.
The March of Dimes released its second annual report card today, the 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day®, when the March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). For the second consecutive year, the United States earned only a “D” on the report card, demonstrating that more than a half million of our nation’s newborns didn’t get the healthy start they deserved. As in 2008, no state earned an “A” and only Vermont received a “B.”
“Here in Indiana we are proud to see that our hard work is starting to pay off,” said Robert White, M.D., March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign Chair. “But we have a long way to go before all babies in America get a healthy start in life and we are committed to working with state health officials, hospitals and health care providers to continue to fight for preemies.”
Criteria that affect preterm birth also improved in Indiana. It earned a star for:
• Reducing the percent of uninsured women of child-bearing age;
• Lowering the late preterm birth rate.
In Indiana, the rate of late preterm births is 9.3percent; the rate of women smoking is 29 percent, and the rate of uninsured women is 17.2 percent.
In the US, more than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year. Preterm birth is a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is the leading cause of newborn death and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, mental retardation and others. A March of Dimes report released in October found that 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm and more than one million die each year.
Quality improvement programs are key to the lowering of preterm birth rates, according to the March of Dimes.
Prematurity Awareness Month events are happening throughout November, including the month-long lighting of Kiwanis International Headquarters, UAW Headquarters, Jasper Engines Plant, and more with purple lights – the color of the March of Dimes work to give all babies a healthy start.
The March of Dimes is the leading organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
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