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
- CDC-Preterm Birth
- Goldenberg RL, Culhane JF, Iams JD, Romero R. Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth. The Lancet, Volume 371, Issue 9606, 5 January 2008-11 January 2008, Pages 75-84.
- Williams BL, et al. Perinatal Origins of First-Grade Academic Failure: Role of Prematurity and Maternal Factors. Pediatrics, March 2013.
- Vohr, B, et al. Adult Talk in the NICU With Preterm Infants and Developmental Outcomes. Pediatrics, February 2014.
- Georgia Department of Public Health Office of Health Indicators for Planning (OHIP)