11-4-13 march of dimes-premature birth rate

A new report shows the number of premature births in Wisconsin inched up slightly in 2012 compared to the year before.   The March of Dimes report released Friday pegs the state's pre-term birth  rate at 10.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percent from 2011.  Babies born prematurely can face serious and lifelong health problems,  including developmental delays. Premature birth is the leading cause of  infant death. The state director of the March of Dimes says the percentage  of premature births in Wisconsin has declined over the past decade but says  the latest figures show there is still much work left to be done.  Jodi Legge says there has been an 11.7 percent decline in the number of  premature births since 2003.  Legge says Wisconsin received a B grade in the latest premature birth and  infant mortality report card.  Legge says Milwaukee has the highest rate of premature births and infant  mortality in the state.  The Milwaukee Health Department says about 54 percent of  infant deaths in the city are associated with premature birth.   Fond du lac County is one of 24 Wisconsin counties with a preterm birth  rate over 10.6 percent.  The nation's rate of births before 37 weeks of pregnancy dropped for the sixth year in a row in 2012 to 11.5 percent.