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Contact: Carlene Ferrier, (603) 228-0317

New Hampshire Preterm Birth Rate Drops Along with Nation

Funds Raised during March for Babies are Critical to Continue Support

(Concord, April 3, 2009) - The nation’s preterm birth rate declined slightly in 2007 – a finding that the March of Dimes hopes will prove to be the start of a new trend in improved maternal and infant health. According to 2007 preliminary data from National Center for Health Statistics, the nation’s preterm birth rate declined slightly from 12.8 percent to 12.7 percent and the rate declined by 10 percent in New Hampshire.

“We are encouraged by this drop,” said New Hampshire March of Dimes Board Chair Larry Poliquin. “This provides us an opportunity to celebrate the collaborative efforts of many partners in the public and private sector, non profits, and health care organizations who have pooled expertise, resources and initiatives to improve birth outcomes in our state.”

For the past five years, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has hosted the Prematurity Summit, funded by the March of Dimes, to focus on the problem of preterm birth. Nationally-known maternal and child health expert, Milton Kotelchuck, PhD, MPH, Professor at Boston University School of Public Health, has been one of the key-note speakers to address how to reduce various risk factors that contribute to preterm birth. Each year, State Maternal Child Health Epidemiologist, David Laflamme, PhD, MPH, presents current data on birth outcomes in New Hampshire to help direct selection of evidence based practices, such as smoking cessation programs, to implement in communities across the state.

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Preterm Birth Rates – March of Dimes/2

The March of Dimes has $241,000 in active mission investments in New Hampshire in 2009 from its NICU Family Support program at CHaD, the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, to educational outreach aimed at reducing the risk factors and disparities that contribute to poor birth outcomes. Funds raised by the upcoming March for Babies are critical to assure the health of our mothers and babies and support research, local community grants, information for families and advocacy, including the Chapter’s work with Tobacco-Free New Hampshire Coalition.

“In such challenging economic times, I am very pleased with our blossoming efforts to work collaboratively, efficiently and effectively with organizations whose goals intersect with our mission,” states Dr. Becky Ewing, New Hampshire Board Member.

On May 2, 2009, at the Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester, residents will join together in support of New Hampshire’s babies by participating in March for Babies. For information on the March call 1-800-287-0317 or go to www.marchofdimes.com/newhampshire .

The March of Dimes and CHaD, the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, have partnered to offer the NICU Family Support Project, which provides comfort and information to families with babies in the intensive care nursery at the hospital.

Each year, March of Dimes staff and volunteers advocate for women and children to have access to health care and prevention services. In 2009, local advocacy efforts are focused on securing an increase in the tobacco tax with some of the funding targeting smoking prevention and cessation services for women of childbearing age.

The New Hampshire March of Dimes Program Services Committee comprised of Maternal Child Health experts from across the state, meets quarterly to address the risk factors and disparities that contribute to poor birth outcomes such as smoking among women of childbearing-age and access to health care.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

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