Miami, FL (AHN) – More than half a million babies in the United States are born before full term, leading the March of Dimes to give the country a “D” for the second year in a row on its annual report card on premature birth rates.

No state received an “A,” and Vermont received a “B.” The “2009 Premature Birth Report Card” stated seven states improved their performance by one letter grade and two did worse.

The grades were determined by comparing preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective, which is less than 8 percent of all live births, the March of Dimes said in a statement. In 2007, the U.S. premature birth rate was 12.7 percent.

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, said in a statement that while all the factors that contribute to preterm births are not fully understood, health care professionals should focus on smoking cessation programs, health care before and during pregnancy, progesterone supplementation and improved adherence to professional guidelines on fertility treatment and early Cesarean-sections and inductions.

For more information on how individual states were graded, go to the Website: marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies.

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