Drop in Early Births Would Mean Fewer Infant Deaths |
March of Dimes Calls for Research to Prevent Preterm Birth
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United
States' extraordinarily high number of babies born too soon explains why
the nation has an infant death rate significantly higher when compared to
Europe, according to a new report from the National Center for Health
Statistics.
Cutting the U.S. preterm birth rate nearly in half to match Sweden's
would lower the US infant mortality rate one-third and mean nearly 8,000
more babies would live, the report found. Sweden has the second lowest
infant mortality rate worldwide, 2.4 for every 1,000 live births, compared
to the US rate of 6.9.
"Too many U.S. babies are born too soon each year and don't live to
celebrate their first birthday. This finding underscores the importance of
supporting research to help us learn what causes preterm birth and how we
can help give all babies a healthy start in life," said Alan R. Fleischman,
MD, medical director of the March of Dimes. "No parent should ever have to
experience the pain of losing a child from prematurity."
November marks the 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Month(R), a time
when the March of Dimes focuses the nation's attention on the growing
problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). Later this
month, the March of Dimes will issue its 2009 Premature Birth Report Card.
The report grades the nation and the states on their preterm birth rates
and assesses states' progress toward improving access to health care
coverage for women of childbearing age, helping women quit smoking during
pregnancy, and to preventing medically unnecessary c-sections prior to 39
weeks of pregnancy - three criteria that can reduce preterm birth rates.
In the United States, 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 a leading cause of infant death, and babies who survive an
early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, including
breathing problems, cerebral palsy, 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.
The research, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and released today by the National Center for Health Statistics, analyzed
infant death rates by gestational age for the United States and selected
countries in Europe.
While survival rates for premature infants is similar between the
United States and European countries, the overwhelming high number of
preterm births in the United States drove its infant mortality rate higher.
For example, one out of every eight US births are preterm, compared to one
out of 16 in Sweden, which had an infant mortality rate of 2.4 for every
1,000 live births.
The report also found that for full-term infants, those born at 37
weeks gestation or more, the United States had the highest infant mortality
rate of the 31 nations studied.
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. For detailed national, state and local perinatal
statistics, visit PeriStats at http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats.
SOURCE March of Dimes
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CONTACT:
Todd P. Dezen, +1-914-997-4608,
tdezen@marchofdimes.com, or Elizabeth Lynch, +1-914-997-4286,
elynch@marchofdimes.com
