Following the annual March of Dimes premature birth examination nationwide, Wisconsin returned with a “B” on its report card.

While the ranking is above average, reports revealed blatant disparities throughout various racial and ethnic communities. African-American residents, for example, displayed a significantly higher preterm birth rate. In addition to these gaps, Wisconsin’s score also failed to reach the 2020 premature birth goal of 8.1 percent.

As Prematurity Awareness Month, November served as a reminder of the 1 million global deaths due to early birth complications each year. While Wisconsin is working to reduce that statistic, the March of Dimes report made it clear there’s still a long way to go.

For more information, contact March of Dimes State Director Jodi Legge at jlegge@marchofdimes.org.