Tim J. Arndt, Senior State Dir. of Comm. and Mktg.
March of Dimes Indiana Chapter
(317) 262-4668 and 1-800-844-9255
tarndt@marchofdimes.com 

PREMATURE BIRTH RATE IN U.S. REACHES HISTORIC HIGH;
NOW UP 29 PERCENT SINCE 1981

Indiana's Rate up 23 percent in same time period but 2002 rate of 12.5 percent still higher than the national average.

 (Indianapolis, IN FEB.  13, 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. In Indiana, the rate increased 23 percent between 1992 and 2002 meaning that today more than 10,500 infants, or 1 in 8, is born fighting for their lives each year in Indiana.

“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.

 “Here in Indiana we will bring maternal and child health leaders together at a Prematurity Summit later this year to prioritize the steps we’re taking to confront this crisis,” said Dr. Philip J. Eskew Jr., Prematurity Campaign Chair for the March of Dimes Indiana Chapter.

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.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.

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.