Preterm births are the second leading cause of death among children younger than five. The percentage of babies born preterm can be reduced through early intervention. The most effective interventions at improving infant survival rates are those that support the pregnant parent right before, during, and after the pregnancy. These can ensure that complications often associated with preterm delivery, such as infection, neurological challenges, and lung immaturity, are treated early.
Data for the State of Babies Yearbook: 2023 were calculated using data from CDC Wonder. The numerator is the number of infants born preterm, which is defined by the CDC as births completed before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The denominator is the total number of infants whose completed weeks of gestation is known.
This indicator can be disaggregated by race/ethnicity and urbanicity. Race/ethnicity: CDC Wonder contains very detailed information on the pregnant parent’s race/ethnicity. After examining sample sizes, we are presenting the following subgroups: non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic more than one race, non-Hispanic native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic of all races. Births where the origin of the mother was unknown were included with non-Hispanic births in the CDC Wonder data. Urbanicity: CDC Wonder classifies each pregnant parent as living in a metro (urban) or non-metro area according to 2013 designations. The metro group includes counties in these categories: large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, and small metro. The non-metro group includes counties in these categories: micropolitan (non-metro) and noncore (non-metro). For the subgroups, the total/national average is out of states whose data is presented for that subgroup, rather than all states. World Health Organization. (2015). WHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241508988; World Health Organization. (2015). WHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241508988 =
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2022). About Natality, 2016-2021 expanded. http://wonder.cdc.gov/natality-expanded-current.html