Solutions are Within Our Grasp

According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS), the number of people living in poverty in the South is higher than in any other area of the United States. Most, however, probably already knew that.

What many don't know is that the rate of premature births in the South has been consistently higher than for every single other region in the United States since 1995. In 2005, 14.1 percent of children born in the South were born prematurely... that rate has increased every single year since 2001.

In Mississippi alone, 18.8 percent of all new births were those that occured before 37 weeks gestation. That number has risen every single year since 1999.

When we think of poverty, prematurity is often one of the last issues that comes to mind. That's not exactly a good thing. As I have pointed out in previous posts and comments, premature infants are at risk for a host of lifelong medical complications, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, heart and lung complications and hearing and vision loss amongst many others. In addition to the serious medical considerations that arise with premature births are the very real costs to the workforce and the economy as a whole. In 2005, premature births cost the United States at least $26.2 billion or $51,600 for every infant born prematurely.

The rate of infant mortality in the United States has made the news several times in the last few years. As most know, that rate is one of the highest in the industrialized world. As the March of Dimes points out, more infants will die because of complications arising from prematurity than from any other cause this year.

Imagine how much could be accomplished if those numbers given above were reduced. Even a small reduction in those numbers could reduce lifelong medical costs to families, economic losses, and at least a small drop in the infant mortality rate.

But... that drop won't come without education and research. We already know that woman without adequate access to healthcare are more likely than others to give birth prematurely. We also already know that women living in poverty are more likely than others to give birth prematurely. What we don't know is why most premature births occur... or exactly how to stop it.

This year, the March of Dimes has launched a campaign aimed at finding those solutions. Getting involved is simple. Simply visit the March of Dimes website and sign the Solutions are Within Our Grasp petition. This petition urges the federal government to: