Preterm birth is defined as a live birth before 37 completed weeks gestation. Some other classifications of preterm births include late preterm (34-36 weeks), moderately preterm (32-36 weeks) and very preterm (<32 weeks). These classifications are useful because they often correspond to clinical characteristics - increasing morbidities or illnesses with decreasing gestational age. Babies born too soon are often born too small. While the causes of preterm birth and low birthweight may be different in some cases, there is significant overlap within these populations of infants.
Last updated:
January 2022
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In 2022, 1 in 10 babies (9.8% of live births) was born preterm in Arizona.
The rate of preterm birth in Arizona is highest for black infants (13.4%), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (11.8%), Asian/Pacific Islanders (10.2%), Hispanics (9.6%) and Whites (9.1%).
Compared with singleton births (one baby), multiple births in Arizona were about 7 times as likely to be preterm in 2022.
Notes: All race categories exclude Hispanics. Preterm is less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from www.marchofdimes.org/peristats.
During 2020-2022 (average) in Arizona, preterm birth rates were highest for black infants (13.4%), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (11.8%), Asian/Pacific Islanders (10.2%), Hispanics (9.6%) and Whites (9.1%).
Of all live births in Arizona during 2019-2021 (average), 42.5% were Hispanic, 40.9% were white, 6.0% were black, 4.7% were American Indian/Alaska Native and 3.8% were Asian/Pacific Islander.