Premature births are births that occur before the 37 weeks of gestation. According to March of Dimes, preterm birth is the primary cause of death in the first month of life in the States.
The preterm birth rate has increased about 20 percent since 1990, and costs the nation more than $26 billion a year, according to the Institute of Medicine report issued in July 2006.
Premature births affects more than 530,000 babies each year in the United States, causing not only death, but is a major cause of lifelong disability.
“During November, the AAP is partnering with the March of Dimes and other organizations to observe Prematurity Awareness Month. On November 12, the 6th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day, the March of Dimes releases the first of what will be an annual state-by-state report card on preterm births, comparing actual rates to the Healthy People 2010 goal.”
Illinois received a D on this years state-by-state report card.
National Prematurity Campaign Alliance Members
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Periodontology
• American College of Nurse Midwives
• American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians & Gynecologists
• American Public Health Association
• American Society of Reproductive Medicine
• Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
• Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
• First Candle/SIDS
• City MatCH
• National Association of County & City Health Officials
• National Association of Neonatal Nurses
• National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• National Birth Defects Prevention Network
• National Black Women’s Health Imperative
• National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
• National Healthy Start Association
• National Indian Health Board
• National Perinatal Association
• National Medical Association – Obstetrics & Gynecology Section
• National WIC Association
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• Sidelines National Support Network
• Society for Gynecologic Investigation
• Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine
