March of Dimes: 1 million premature babies die each year

Nearly 1 in 10 of the world’s babies is born premature, and about one million infants die each year as a result, according to a report released today by the March of Dimes.

Although the problem is concentrated in poor countries, the preterm birth rate in the USA is quite high: 12.7% of all babies are born early. The US figure has increased over the last 25 years, in large part because of an increase in elective c-sections, advanced age of mothers and assisted reproduction, the report says.

Babies born before completion of the 37th week of pregnancy are considered premature.