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 2021, 1 in 7 babies (13.5% of live births) was born preterm in Louisiana.
The rate of preterm birth in Louisiana is highest for black infants (16.9%), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (14.7%), Whites (11.0%), Hispanics (10.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (9.9%).
Compared with singleton births (one baby), multiple births in Louisiana were about 6 times as likely to be preterm in 2021.
Notes: Late preterm is between 34 and 36 weeks gestation.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Retrieved September 30, 2023, from www.marchofdimes.org/peristats.
In 2021, there were 5,654 late preterm births in Louisiana, representing 9.8% of live births.