Preterm birth rates in the United States are witnessing a troubling increase, according to a recent report issued by the March of Dimes, an organization specializing in maternal and infant health. The report revealed that 21 states recorded higher preterm birth rates this year compared to last year.
Data indicates that the South leads the list of the most affected regions, with several states reporting rates exceeding 11.5 percent, compared to a national average of 10.4 percent in 2024.
Rising Preterm Birth Rates in the U.S. South
Preterm birth is defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy and is considered an important indicator of the overall health of a population, according to Dr. Heather Burris, a neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She explained that the phenomenon is linked to multiple factors including obesity, high blood pressure, and substance use disorders, making it a reflection of pregnant women’s health. Her comments were published by Newsweek.
Mississippi recorded the highest preterm birth rate among all states, at 15 percent, followed by Louisiana (14 percent), West Virginia (13.4 percent), Alabama (12.7 percent), and Arkansas (12.1 percent). Burris attributes this trend to the fact that regions with difficult social conditions and weaker healthcare infrastructures tend to experience these elevated rates. Even within a single state, variations appear due to disparities in poverty levels and health environments.
Southern states are among the least fortunate in terms of access to advanced healthcare services. Many rural hospitals face the threat of closure, and the region suffers from high obesity rates and limited healthy food options—factors that place additional burdens on pregnant women’s health. Research also indicates higher birth rates among non-Hispanic Black women in the South, a group with elevated preterm birth rates due to intertwined social and health-related causes.
In addition to these factors, medical interventions also play an important role in shaping the picture. C-section rates are notably high in states such as Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia. Eugene Declercq, a health expert from Boston University, notes that rising rates of medical induction and cesarean deliveries have contributed to increasing preterm births, pointing out that induction rates in vaginal births have jumped from 27 percent to 40 percent since 2014.
Northeastern States Lead in Maternal Health Outcomes
By contrast, Northeastern states emerged as the best performers. New Hampshire recorded the country’s lowest preterm birth rate at 7.9 percent, followed by Vermont (8.2 percent), then Massachusetts and Oregon (8.9 percent). These states rank among the strongest in public health indicators, with lower poverty levels and greater availability of healthcare, nutritional, and environmental resources—all contributing positively to maternal health.
According to the report, only 12 states maintained the same rates as last year, while 19 states saw improvement, and only 11 states succeeded in meeting the Healthy People 2030 target of 9.4 percent.
Burris emphasized that improving preterm birth rates requires enhancing the health of girls and women before pregnancy, primarily through strengthening preventive healthcare, expanding opportunities for education and employment, reducing poverty, and ensuring families have access to healthy food and clean environments. She added that investing in public health will remain a critical element in confronting this challenge over the coming decades.