March of Dimes Gives California a ‘B’ Grade for Preterm Birth Rate
On Thursday, the March of Dimes released its annual report card grading California and other states on preterm birth rates, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Background
Birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered preterm (Avril, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/5). CDC lists premature birth as the leading cause of death for infants. Further, due to development that occurs in the final weeks of pregnancy, infants who are born preterm face greater risks of:
- Cerebral palsy;
- Developmental delays;
- Breathing and feeding complications; and
- Hearing and vision problems (Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/4).
According to March of Dimes, the preterm birth rate in the U.S. is "among the worst of high-resource countries" (March of Dimes release, 11/4).
In the past, the March of Dimes had set a goal of having the nationwide preterm birth rate fall to 9.6% by 2020 (California Healthline, 11/7). Now that the U.S. overall has met the goal -- at 9.6% this year -- the organization has revised its 2020 target to 8.1% (March of Dimes release, 11/4).
Details of Report
For the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, researchers compared states' and localities' preterm birth rates in 2014 with the March of Dimes' 8.1% goal. The March of Dimes graded areas using a letter grade scale that defined:
- "A" as a preterm birth rate of 8.1% or less;
- "B" as a preterm birth rate of 8.2% to 9.2%;
- "C" as a preterm birth rate of 9.3% to 10.3%;
- "D" as a preterm birth rate of 10.4% to 11.4%; and
- "F" as a preterm birth rate of 11.5% or greater.
The report graded every state, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Researchers also examined 2013 preterm birth rates in 100 cities with the greatest number of births. In addition, the report also looked at racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates.
National Findings
Overall, the report found that Oregon had the lowest preterm birth rate in 2014, at 7.7%, while Mississippi had the highest rate, at 12.9%.
Meanwhile, the 2013 preterm birth rates in the 100 cities with the greatest number of births ranged from 7.2% in Portland, Ore., to 18.8% in Shreveport, La.
Researchers also found racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates. Nationally, preterm birth rates were:
- 13.4% among blacks;
- 10.4% among American Indians;
- 9.3% among Hispanics;
- 9.1% among Whites; and
- 8.7% among Asians.
California Findings
California received a "B" grade overall, with an average preterm birth rate of 8.3%.
In addition, 18 California cities were included in the report's list of 100 U.S. cities with the highest number of births. Of those, Oxnard was the only California city to receive an "A" grade, with a preterm birth rate of 7.8%.
Meanwhile, 12 California cities received a "B" grade:
- Anaheim, with a preterm birth rate of 8.5%;
- Chula Vista, with a preterm birth rate of 9.1%;
- Fontana, with a preterm birth rate of 8.5%;
- Long Beach, with a preterm birth rate of 8.7%;
- Modesto, with a preterm birth rate of 8.3%;
- Oakland, with a preterm birth rate of 8.2%;
- Riverside, with a preterm birth rate of 8.6%;
- Sacramento, with a preterm birth rate of 8.5%;
- San Diego, with a preterm birth rate of 8.3%;
- San Francisco, with a preterm birth rate of 8.6%;
- San Jose, with a preterm birth rate of 8.3%; and
- Santa Ana, with a preterm birth rate of 8.2%.
Five California cities received a "C" grade:
- Bakersfield, with a preterm birth rate of 9.3%;
- Fresno, with a preterm birth rate of 10.2%;
- Los Angeles, with a preterm birth rate of 9.3%;
- San Bernardino, with a preterm birth rate of 9.7%; and
- Stockton, with a preterm birth rate of 10.2%.
Meanwhile, California ranked 16th overall for the lowest race and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates (March of Dimes report, 11/4).
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