DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A prematurity rate that is consistently trending downward has earned Colorado a “C” on the 2011 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. Since the organization began publishing these annual evaluations in 2008, this is the first year Colorado’s grade has improved from a “D.” Then, Colorado’s prematurity rate was 12.2%; now, it is 11.3%. This percentage difference equates to nearly 1,200 additional Colorado babies being born full term since 2008.
A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks. A baby is premature when he is born three or more weeks before full term. The latest available data (from which the 11.3% rate comes from) shows that, in an average year, more than 68,000 babies are born in Colorado. One in nine is premature.
In addition to an overall assessment, the March of Dimes report also tracks progress of factors that contribute to premature birth: uninsured women, women smoking and late premature birth (birth at 34 to 36 week s of pregnancy, often linked to elective induction of labor and cesarean section, or c-section). These three factors have also steadily improved in Colorado. Since the first Premature Birth Report Card was issued in 2008, the percentage of uninsured Colorado women has gone from 21% to 18.4%; women smoking, from 19.8% to 15.4%; and, late premature birth, from 8.9% to 8.1%.
Premature Birth Report Card grades are based on how a state is progressing toward a national premature birth health goal of 9.6% by 2020. The March of Dimes assesses all fifty states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The U.S. overall is also graded. With a premature birth rate of 12.2%, it earned a “C.” Eighteen other states along with Colorado earned that same grade. Sixteen received a “B,” 12 a “D” and four an “F.” One state, Vermont, earned an “A.” Data sources for the reports are the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.
“There is a lot that’s exciting about this news,” said Shelly Goodchild, state director of the March of Dimes Colorado chapter. “Colorado is doing a better job of giving its babies a healthy, on-time start. This benefits those newborns and also their families, plus school systems, health systems and anyone who pays taxes. Also, we’re pulling away from the national average and establishing a better foothold for infant and maternal health.”
Goodchild pointed to a number of factors that could explain Colorado’s improved premature birth rate. A series of legislative changes has enabled more women access to care, primarily through Medicaid. Smoking cessation programs offered by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment continue to be strongly promoted. Groups like the Colorado OB/GYN Society and the Colorado Perinatal Care Council have worked to raise awareness amongst physicians about the need to carefully evaluate elective labor induction and c-sections. And, new ways to offer care to underserved pregnant women (such as CenteringPregnancy, a group health model funded by the March of Dimes in eight Colorado locations) have spread.
“Women in this program – although they might be considered higher risk for delivering too soon – have a premature birth rate of 5%, less than half the state norm,” Goodchild mentioned.
Today’s announcement comes on the first day of Prematurity Awareness Month, an annual initiative led by the March of Dimes to increase understanding and discussion of what has been termed the leading threat to a baby’s health. In Colorado, a number of special activities are planned. Today, health professionals who care for preemies and other critically ill babies will partake in a special education session hosted by the March of Dimes at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Tonight, a lighted pink-and-blue cause ribbon will begin shining on the exterior of Denver’s Pepsi Center. A Town Hall Meeting concerning mom/baby health issues will be held on Wednesday, November 16 at the Legislative Services Building across the street from the State Capitol; all interested Coloradans are invited to participate. On Thursday, November 17, the Colorado chapter will release new premature birth prevention resources for pregnant women. On Friday, November 18, the chapter will host a meeting of the Colorado Perinatal Care Council to present tools for reducing elective procedures. All month long, Coloradans can visit marchofdimes.com/colorado to find simple and fun ways to raise awareness of premature birth within their social networks and communities.
Thirteen million babies worldwide are born prematurely each year. One million die as a result. Babies who survive often have lifelong health problems such as cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and intellectual disabilities. In the U.S. alone, premature birth is estimated (by the Institute of Medicine) to have an annual dollar cost of $26 billion.
The March of Dimes is the leading organization for pregnancy and baby health. The nonprofit group seeks to help moms have healthy pregnancies and give babies a healthy start. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It funds research, services, education and advocacy. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com (English) or nacersano.org (Spanish). Information on Colorado activities and programs (including the full text of the 2011 Premature Birth Report Card) may be found at marchofdimes.com/colorado.