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Premature birth

How common is premature birth?

More than 10 in 100 babies in the United States are born early (before 37 weeks).

Source:
Tucker J, McGuire W.
Epidemiology of preterm birth.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 675-678.

This rate is rising, and is highest in African-American women.

Source:
MacDorman MF, Minino AM, Strobino DM, et al.
Annual summary of vital statistics: 2001.
Pediatrics. 2002; 110: 1037-1052.

Source:
Goldenberg RL, Rouse DJ.
Prevention of premature birth.
New England Journal of Medicine. 1998; 339: 313-320.

³ In 2005 nearly 13 in 100 babies born in the US were early.

Source:
Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ.
Births: Preliminary data for 2005.
National Vital Statistics Report. 2006; 28: 1-18.

⁴

Sources for the information on this page:

Tucker J, McGuire W.Epidemiology of preterm birth.BMJ. 2004; 329: 675-678.

MacDorman MF, Minino AM, Strobino DM, et al.Annual summary of vital statistics: 2001.Pediatrics. 2002; 110: 1037-1052.

Goldenberg RL, Rouse DJ.Prevention of premature birth.New England Journal of Medicine. 1998; 339: 313-320.

Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ.Births: Preliminary data for 2005.National Vital Statistics Report. 2006; 28: 1-18.

This information was last updated on Nov 19, 2008

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