In the United States every year, more than 530,000 babies are born before reaching the 37th week of gestation. That’s about 12.7% of all births in the US, District of Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico, a rate that the March of Dimes gives a ‘D’ grade. Some individual states scored even lower.

The number one cause of death to newborn infants is premature delivery. Surviving preemies often face a lifetime battle against a number of chronic medical conditions, including asthma, blindness, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and loss of hearing.

The 2005 rate of preterm births is about 20% higher than that of 1990, according to a 2006 report from the Institute of Medicine. The institute estimates a national expense exceeding $26 billion per year to treat people born prematurely.

The March of Dimes’ scorecard is based on objectives established for the nation-wide Healthy People 2010 program, which calls for no more than a 7.6% rate of premature births per year. Some individual scores, released today as the ‘Premature Birth Report Card,” include:

• The number of states/territories scoring an ‘A’ – zero.
• 18 states, DC, and Puerto Rico failed entirely.
• The only state scoring a ‘B’ – Vermont.
• The number of states/territories earning a ‘D’ – 23.

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, says these statistics are “unacceptable” and she expresses the nonprofit organization’s intent to explore means of improving the chances of survival for US children. The organization would like to see improved means of prevention in at-risk pregnancies and programs to better educate expectant mothers against the dangers posed by cigarette smoking. Women uninsured during childbearing years also increase the risk of premature delivery.