Women In Government Action
At Women In Government's First Annual Healthcare Summit held in Washington, DC from November 17-10, 2010, the issue of PreTerm Issues and The Challenges and Costs. Our speaker and President of the March of Dimes Foundation, Dr. Jennifer Howse, spoke about combating the common and serious issue, the headways being made to reduce the incidence, including through legislative and regulatory actions. For more information please visit the meeting page, or view Dr. Howse's materials.
Women In Government hosted a Preventing Pre-Term Birth Legislative Training Session in May 2006 in Dana Point, California. This training session looked carefully at the burden of pre-term birth in the US and included information regarding screening for pre-term birth, state protocol in California, bringing support to patients, and engaging young women. For a copy of the agenda, please visit the meeting page.
Background
Preterm or premature birth is medically defined as a live birth before 37 weeks of gestation. According to the March of Dimes, there are 543,000 premature babies born in the United States each year. That number translates to approximately one out of every eight babies born. These births account for more than $18 billion in hospital expenditures annually. Preterm babies are at risk for a variety of complications including developmental and intellectual disorders, vision impairment, respiratory and pulmonary issues, life-threatening infections, and cerebral palsy. Studies done by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development have also found that children born preterm are at greater risk for long-term health issues such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Research done by the March of Dimes illustrates that women at greatest risk of preterm births include those who are pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets, or more), women with cervical and uterine abnormalities, women who have had previous preterm births and women who received late or no prenatal care. The American Pregnancy Association approximates that over 13 percent of women who become pregnant annually are uninsured. This is thought to be a major reason for inadequate prenatal care within the United States.
The injection of 17Alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (17P), which is a progesterone injection, has recently proven to show preventative success against preterm birth in women who are at a high risk for preterm birth. According to University of North Carolina Center for Maternal and Infant Health, a weekly injection of 250 mg of 17P could result in a reduction in the rate of preterm delivery prior to 35 weeks gestation by 33 percent and as great as a 42 percent reduction in preterm deliveries prior to 32 weeks gestation.
Legislation
NY Senate Bill 2817
An act to establish a program to engage at-risk pregnant women in early and continuous prenatal care.
NY Assembly Bill 8397
An act to amend public health law relating to prenatal care programs and services.
WY House Bill 121
An act providing for a state plan to provide prenatal care to pregnant women.
Additional Resources
Sources
Infant Mortality by Race for 1995, 2000, 2005
March of Dimes List of Risks and Causes of Preterm Birth
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development List of Challenges for Preterm Babies
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Cost, Consequences of and Methods for Preventing Preterm Births
Dr. S. Dolan Answers Questions about Preterm Birth
About 17Alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate Injections
