NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A new report card published by the March of Dimes organization has given the state of Tennessee a ‘D’ grade for for the rate of premature births reported.
Premature Birth Report Card grades are assigned by comparing the 2016 preterm birth rate in a state or locality to the March of Dimes goal of 8.1 percent by 2020.
According to March of Dimes, the preterm birth rate in Tennessee is 11.3 percent.
The data shows that although Montgomery County received a ‘B’ grade at 9 percent, conditions worsened from tje previous year.
The report also looked at disparities in preterm births based on race and ethnicity. According to the report, in Tennessee, the preterm birth rate among black women is 43 percent higher than the rate among all other women.
You can read the full report on the March of Dimes website.
March of Dimes: The Report Card highlights priority areas for action with county and racial/ethnic disparities data and a disparity ratio. Report Cards are intended to spur action to improve equity and reduce preterm birth, with the goal of giving every mother and baby a fair chance for a healthy pregnancy and birth.