Nebraska gets a ‘B’ grade on the March of Dimes’ latest premature birth report card.
The organization’s report card grades states based on three factors: the percentage of uninsured women, late preterm births, and the percentage of women who smoke. Mary Larson is Director of Program Services for March of Dimes Nebraska. She says Nebraska's premature birth rate is 11.1 percent.
"It says since our goal is 9.6 percent that we have a ways to go, but that we’re going in the right direction, and that a number of programs that have been implemented across the state with the March of Dimes and their partners is having an impact on our premature birth rate."
Larson says more can be done to bring the premature birth rate down to the March of Dimes goal of 9.6 percent. One way, according to Larson, is for Congress to reauthorize a bill funding research in to the causes of premature birth. Larson says more women need prenatal health care coverage, so potential health issues can be identified and treated before conception.
More information on the report card is available at www.marchofdimes.com.