Preterm Birth

Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality for infants. Oklahoma’s preterm birth rate has consistently been higher than the national average – every week, an estimated 101 babies in our state are born too soon. As a result, infants can face lifelong impacts, including developmental delays, chronic health problems, and impaired vision/hearing. 

Because preterm birth is closely tied to maternal health, it is often preventable. Adequate prenatal care (see Adequate Prenatal Care), allowing for time between pregnancies (see Healthy Birth Spacing), and avoiding drugs or alcohol during pregnancy are all proven ways to lower risk. Addressing barriers to care that make it harder for women to take these steps – including those who live in poverty (see Women Experiencing Poverty) or in rural areas (see Access to Care in Rural Areas) – is essential to ensuring equitable access to healthy births. 

There are also significant racial disparities in who is impacted by preterm birth. In OK, the rate of preterm births among Black women is about 1.4x higher than the state’s average. Across racial and ethnic groups in the state, the highest preterm birth rates are observed among black infants (15.9%), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native (11.3%), White (11%), Hispanic (10.3%), and Asian/Pacific islander infants (10.3%)

Preterm birth can be triggered by a variety of different biological or environmental factors. Women who have previously given birth preterm, are pregnant with more than one child (twins, triplets, etc), or those with pre-existing reproductive complications face the highest risk of giving birth early.  Other common risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, poor nutrition, stress, domestic violence, smoking, substance use, and maternal age.