Preterm births on rise in the US, report finds
Racial disparity widened in 2021, research shows
Preterm births last year reached their highest peak since 2007 – with more than 383,000 born before 37 weeks of gestational age in the United States, according to a new report.
In 2021, roughly 10.5% of U.S. babies were born premature, according to the annual March of Dimes “Report Card,” which rated the United States at D+. The score dropped from its C- rating in 2020, when the preterm birth rate saw its first decline in six years, a slight decrease to 10.1%.
The report released this week found disparities widened between white mothers and Native American and Black mothers, who are already 62% more likely to have a preterm birth and nearly three times as likely as white moms to die of childbirth-related causes. In 2021, Black mothers saw a 3% increase and Native mothers a 6% increase in preterm births, according to the analysis.
Of all groups, Asian and Pacific Islander mothers saw the largest preterm birth increase – an 8% surge – even though births to Asian mothers decreased that year, and they have the lowest preterm birth rate overall.
Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed significantly to the rising preterm birth rates, and the findings signal a need for more efforts toward ensuring equitable prenatal care access.
Preterm births can be caused by various health conditions in the birthing parent, like high blood pressure and diapreterm
betes, as well as stress, problems with the uterus or placenta, infection or inflammation.
Being born premature can lead to significant developmental complications in babies, including undeveloped respiratory systems causing breathing problems, and hearing, vision and behavioral issues.
Pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are 40% more likely to go into preterm labor, said Dr. Zsakeba Henderson, an obstetrician and gynecologist who is the March of Dimes’ senior vice president.
Additionally, lockdowns and changes or delays in care during the pandemic may have caused gaps in prenatal care, which Black and Native mothers already suffered disproportionately, said Henderson, who leads the nonprofit’s Office of Maternal and Child Health Impact.
Only four states saw a decrease in
births, and 45 states and the District of Columbia saw an increase, according to the analysis by the March of Dimes, a maternal and infant health research and advocacy nonprofit.
Southeastern states, as well as Puerto Rico, saw some of the highest rates of preterm births. The report also showed states with some of the lowest maternal and infant health scores were in the South.
“I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” Henderson said. “Consistently, the worst rates have been seen in that region. These states have large populations of Black mothers who experienced the highest rates.”
Infant mortality rates decreased slightly overall, but disparities remained, with Black babies dying at 10.8 per 1,000 births, Native babies at 8.4 per 1,000 births, and Hispanic babies at 5 per 1,000 births. White babies saw 4.6 deaths per 1,000 births.