What does this measure?

This is the percentage of infants born before 37 weeks of gestation.

Data Source

Estimates of gestational age are entered on the infant birth certificate collected by Vital Records of the Department of Public Health. Data are managed by the Office of Health Information and Policy.

Why is this important?

Being born prematurely increases a child’s risk of chronic morbidity, developmental delays, intellectual deficits, and academic difficulties. Prematurity rate is a leading indicator of maternal and child health in a given population.

References and Resources