The 2024 March of Dimes Report Card: The state of maternal and infant health for American families (14 November 2024)

Summary

March of Dimes, a maternal health non-profit organisation in the United States, released its 2024 Report Card, revealing the US preterm birth rate remains historically high at 10.4% with significant disparities among racial and ethnic groups. This report details the US’s persistent challenges in improving maternal and infant health outcomes and highlights the urgent need for the US to prioritise the health of mothers and babies.

The 2024 Report Card reveals over 370,000 babies were born preterm in 2023, with one-third of the largest US cities receiving an F grade for preterm birth rates. Twenty-four states experienced worsening rates, many in the southeastern US, with Black birthing people facing preterm birth rates 1.4 times higher than their peers.

Content

Key findings from the 2024 Report Card: 

• Preterm birth: The national preterm birth rate remains at 10.4% with Black moms facing a preterm birth rate of 14.7%, almost 1.5 times higher than the national average.
• Inadequate prenatal care: Rates of inadequate prenatal care reached 15.7%, the highest in a decade with disparities most pronounced in Black and American Indian/Alaska Native communities.
• Maternal mortality: Rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels with over 800 maternal deaths in 2022, a national rate of 22 deaths per 100,000 live births, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native mothers experiencing rates 2-3 times higher than White mothers.
• Infant mortality: Preterm birth remains the leading cause of infant mortality, which rose by 3% in 2023—the largest increase in over 20 years. Black infants are nearly twice as likely to die in their first year than the national average.
• Environmental exposure: Nearly 40% of birthing individuals are at risk of exposure to extreme heat, while almost three in four birthing people are at risk of exposure to poor air quality.