Status: Getting worse
Most Recent Data:
10.4
percent
(2022)
Target:
9.4
percent
Desired Direction:
Decrease desired
Baseline:
10.0
percent of live births were preterm in 2018
Reduce preterm births
Summary
Infants born before 37 weeks of gestation have a higher risk of infections, developmental problems, breathing problems, and even death. Preterm births are more common in some racial/ethnic groups. Strategies to reduce preterm births include promoting adequate birth spacing, helping women quit smoking, and providing high-quality medical care for women during pregnancy.
Topics: Pregnancy and Childbirth, Infants, Women
Workgroup: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Workgroup
