Georgia Department of Public Health officials announced Monday that the state’s premature birth rate increased in 2016.
Premature babies are defined as infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. In 2016, Georgia’s pre-term birth rate was 11.2 percent. That’s an increase from 2015’s 10.8 percent rate. Georgia’s rate is also higher than the national average for pre-term birth which is 9.8 percent.
State officials said a variety of factors can cause a woman to give birth early. These include the health of the pregnant woman, a history of prior preterm births and shorter spacing between births. Race and location can also affect birth rates. African-American women have higher rates of pre-term births, as do women living in rural counties.
Premature babies can have lifelong health issues, such as breathing problems or cerebral palsy.
This story was first reported on Georgia Health News.