Premature birth shows up when babies are born before 37 weeks of gestation.
TheCDCreports that the earlier a baby is born, the greater the risk of death or severe disability.
Data from 2020 shows that preterm birth was responsible for 16% of infant deaths.
Disturbingly, this shows a 4% jump since the previous year.
“There are too many babies being born too soon: 1 in 10,” says Henderson.
Vermont has the lowest preterm birth rate at 8%, earning an A. Mississippi has the highest rate of all states, reaching 15%.
While COVID-19 has certainly played a role in recent numbers, there is more at play.
