United States Shows Highest Number of Preterm Births Despite Improved Rates

Statistics show that the United States still carries a relatively high number of preterm births, despite an improved birth rate and the lowest preterm birth rate the country has seen in almost 15 years.

According to Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, the president of the March of Dimes, she said that the national preterm birth rate peaked in 2006 at 12.8 percent after rising steadily for more than two decades. Yet the 2012 rate showed a 10 percent improvement since the 2006 peak as the best rate since 1998.

"Although we have made great progress in reducing our nation's preterm birth rate from historic highs, the United States still has the highest rate of preterm birth of any industrialized country," Howse said in a statement, according to UPI. "A premature birth costs businesses about 12 times as much as uncomplicated healthy birth. As a result, premature birth is a major driver of health insurance costs."

Howse also announced via the Institute of Medicine that more than $26 billion is spent annually on preterm births, what's also referred to as birth that occurs any time before 37 weeks into pregnancy.

Sadly, this is the leading cause of newborn death. Such increases also include the risk for serious complications and sometimes lifelong health issues, such as breathing problems, development delays, vision loss, jaundice and even cerebral paulsy.

Being born just a few weeks early can greatly increase the risk of death for many babies. For instance, those born between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy may have triple the risk of death compared to babies born between 39 and 40 weeks, according to Chief Medical Officer of the March of Dimes, Dr. Edward McCabe.

"We must continue to invest in premature birth prevention because every baby deserves a healthy start in life," Howse concluded, via Live Science.