Oklahoma births get poor grade
Group says premature deliveries cause numerous health risks for babies

BY SUSAN SIMPSON Comments 0
Published: November 13, 2008

Citing poor maternal health and lack of insurance as risk factors, the March of Dimes graded Oklahoma a "D” in preterm births.

Dr. Alvie Richardson talks about state’s report card on premature births Wednesday. Photo BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

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State’s birth rate graded ‘D’

Oklahoma preterm birth rate: 13.1 percent

Two reasons: One in four Oklahoma women of childbearing age has no health insurance. About the same ratio are smokers.

Average week in state: 996 babies are born; 129 are born to teens; 319 are delivered by Cesarean section; 130 are born preterm; 79 have low birth weight; eight die before their first birthday.

Source: March of Dimes

The "Premature Birth Report Card” released Wednesday said Oklahoma’s preterm birth rate of 13.1 percent — or one in eight live births — lags behind national objectives. The preterm birth rate in Oklahoma increased more than 20 percent from 1995 to 2005.

Nationally, the preterm birth rate was 12.7 percent. Only nine states received a C or higher, none received an A., and 18 states received an F. Oklahoma ranked 30th overall.

"Premature birth is an urgent and yet often overlooked health crisis in the United States,” said Gregor Scott, state advisory board chairman for the March of Dimes. He spoke Wednesday at a media conference to mark Prematurity Awareness Day.

Other risk factors for Oklahoma mothers include smoking and an increase in multiple births due to greater use of fertility treatment, said Dr. Alvie Richardson, an obstetrician and professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Also, more doctors and patients are opting to induce births or Caesarean sections before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Preterm births are the leading cause of death in the first month of life in the United States. Babies who survive face serious health problems like learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness and hearing loss, Richardson said.

March of Dimes is seeking petition signatures at marchofdimes.com/petition so lawmakers will support funding and policies to combat premature births.

Recommendations include expanding health care coverage for women and urging smoking cessation for pregnant women.

The organization also wants hospitals to better assess whether Caesarean sections and labor inductions are necessary for patients before they’ve reached 39 weeks gestation.