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Infant Deaths Up in U.S. for First Time Since 1958
Premature Birth Is A Leading Cause
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., FEB. 11, 2004 – Increases in deaths due to premature birth, birth defects and maternal complications during pregnancy account for most of the increase in the infant mortality rate between 2001 and 2002. This is the first time that the infant mortality rate has increased since 1958, according to a preliminary report released today by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.
Infant mortality in the U.S. increased from 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2001 to a rate of 7.0 in 2002, according to the NCHS report. The increase was concentrated in the neonatal period (during the first month of life).
"These figures reinforce the importance of addressing prematurity," said Dr. Nancy Green, medical director of the March of Dimes, which launched a five-year, $75 million campaign last year to combat the rising problem of premature birth. "Prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life and the rate of babies born too soon is now at a historic high of 12.1 percent, up 29 percent over the last two decades."
"As a nation, we must make the growing crisis of prematurity a national priority," said Dr. Green. “Premature birth is now one of the most common, serious and costly infant health problems facing our nation. The national hospital bill for prematurity totaled $13.6 billion in 2001.
Dr. Green noted that the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign works to educate women and health professionals on reducing the risks of preterm birth, support more research into the causes, and increase access to maternal care. One of the goals of the campaign is to reduce the national rate of premature birth by 15 percent by 2007.
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