Oklahoma earns D- for premature births on March of Dimes annual report card

One in nine babies in Oklahoma was born too early, or before 37 weeks gestation, in 2018, prompting March of Dimes to give the state a D- on its annual report card.

The report, released Monday, found a preterm birth rate of 11.4 percent in the state, an increase compared to 11.1 percent in 2017. Overall, the U.S. rate increased for the fourth year in a row, earning it a “C” grade. March of Dimes is a national nonprofit that supports research, education and advocacy related to infant and maternal health.

The report also highlighted racial disparities in the state. In Oklahoma, the preterm birth...