A new report from the March of Dimes highlights alarming trends in prenatal care and preterm births in the U.S., particularly in Southern states. Despite efforts to improve maternal health, the rate of premature births has remained stubbornly high over the past decade, with no significant improvements.
Released on Thursday, the March of Dimes’ annual report gives the U.S. a disappointing D+ grade for its preterm birth rate, which stood at 10.4% in 2023, slightly down from 10.5% in 2022. This marks little change from the 9.8% rate recorded in 2013. “It’s really frustrating,” said Dr. Sarahn Wheeler, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Duke University Medical Center. “I take care of patients who are the real human stories behind the numbers.” Nearly 370,000 babies were born prematurely last year, and these infants are often at a higher risk for long-term health challenges, including physical and intellectual disabilities.
The report highlights that inadequate prenatal care is a significant contributor to these troubling statistics, particularly in areas lacking sufficient healthcare resources. Southern states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, which have some of the highest rates of preterm births, are particularly affected. “Inadequate prenatal care has reached its highest level in a decade, with 15.7% of pregnancies lacking adequate care,” noted Dr. Amanda Williams, interim chief medical officer at the March of Dimes.
External factors also play a major role in the increasing preterm birth rate. Over 40% of pregnant individuals were exposed to extreme heat, and nearly 75% lived in areas with poor air quality. “There is an increasing recognition that things like climate change” significantly impact premature births, said Dr. Wheeler.
Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are also linked to higher rates of preterm births, with women suffering from these conditions experiencing preterm birth rates of 28.8% and 23.3%, respectively.
Experts are concerned that the situation could worsen in the coming years. The report also suggests that the shortage of obstetric care providers, especially in states with strict abortion laws, is contributing to this crisis. “We can’t ignore the data that tells us that there are more hospitals closing, that there are OB/GYNs who are retiring early and fewer medical students going into OB/GYN in states with the strictest abortion bans,” Williams explained.
This data underscores the urgent need for deeper research into preterm birth as a medical condition, according to Dr. Wheeler. “We need a real commitment to understanding preterm birth as a disease process, to offer better therapies and better hope for these families,” she said.
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