Colorado scores a C in preterm-birth report
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Colorado earned a C for its preterm-birth rate, underscoring persistent inequities in maternal health, per a new report from March of Dimes.
Why it matters: Preterm babies — born before 37 weeks — face higher risks of health complications.
- The report should serve as a "wake-up call," said Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer of the nonprofit, which focuses on ending preventable preterm birth and infant death.
By the numbers: Colorado's preterm birth rate hit 10% in 2024, up from 9.7% last year and 8.4% a decade ago. Grades are based on how far states are from March of Dimes' goal rate of 8.1%.
Between the lines: Racial disparities persist, and factors like poverty, housing stability and discrimination influence these health outcomes, Warren says.
- In Colorado, about 9.2% of babies born to white mothers were premature, compared with more than 14% born to Black and Pacific Islander mothers.
The big picture: The U.S. earned a D+ for the fourth year in a row, with 21 states seeing worse outcomes.