LAS VEGAS - Nevada's preterm birth rate dropped again, earning it a better grade on the March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth report card.
Nevada's preterm birth rate was 12.6 percent in 2013, down from 13.0 in 2012, earning it a C on the report card.
The national preterm birth rate fell to 11.4 percent in 2013 - the lowest in 17 years - meeting the federal Healthy People 2020 goal seven years early. Despite this progress, the nation still received a "C" on the annual report card and still has the highest rate of preterm birth of any industrialized country.
"We're proud of Nevada's better grade on the report card. Their success is a testament to the hard work of Nevada's state and local health departments, our hospital partners and health care providers. It shows that when a health problem, as complex as preterm birth, is challenged with strong policies and bold leadership, babies benefit," said Donna Miller, MD. "Through the March of Dimes' unique, team-based research projects, we will continue the important work of discovering the unknown causes of preterm birth so more babies will get a healthy start in life."
Here in Nevada, the March of Dimes is supporting group prenatal programs like Centering Pregnancy, which is supported in part by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, hospital efforts to end early elective deliveries, and professional and community education programs that will help women have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
In Nevada, the rate of late preterm births is 9.1 percent; the rate of women smoking is 15.9 percent, and the rate of uninsured women is 28.5 percent.
These factors contribute to improved infant health in Nevada. It earned a star on the report card for:
• Reducing the percent of uninsured women of child-bearing age;
• Lowering the late preterm birth rate.
These improvements mean not just healthier babies, but also a potential savings in health care and economic costs to society.
The March of Dimes attributed the improved rates to an expansion of successful programs and interventions, including actions by Nevada health officials here and every other state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
"We will continue to work together to improve access to health care, help women quit smoking and, through our Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait consumer education campaign, encourage women and health care providers to avoid scheduling a delivery before 39 weeks of pregnancy unless medically necessary", Dr. Miller.
Grades are based on comparing each state's and the nation's 2013 preliminary preterm birth rates with the March of Dimes 2020 goal of 9.6 percent of all live births. The U.S. preterm birth rate is 11.4 percent, a decline of 11 percent from the peak of 12.8 percent in 2006.
The Report Card information for the U.S. and Nevada will be available online at: marchofdimes.org/reportcard.
Premature birth, birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy, 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, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and others. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants. At least 39 weeks of pregnancy are important to a baby's health because many important organs, including the brain and lungs, are not completely developed until then.
On Nov. 17, the March of Dimes and organizations from around the world will mark the fourth World Prematurity Day. The World Prematurity Network, (WPN), a global coalition of consumer and parent groups working together to raise awareness and prevent premature birth in their countries, is calling for action to prevent preterm birth and improve care for babies born too soon. An estimated 15 million babies are born premature and of those more than a million die as a result of their early birth.
Learn more about Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Day by visiting http://www.facebook.com/worldprematurityday and share stories and videos about babies born too soon. The page features an interactive world map showing the home place for each story told.
Prematurity Awareness events are happening throughout November. Details can be found at marchofdimes.org/Nevada.
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