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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Preterm Birth
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In 2021, 1 in 8 babies (12.0% of live births) was born preterm in Puerto Rico.
The rate of preterm birth in Puerto Rico is highest for White infants (12.3%), followed by and Hispanics (11.8%).
Compared with singleton births (one baby), multiple births in Puerto Rico were about 7 times as likely to be preterm in 2020.
Notes: Preterm is less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, territories file, final natality data. Retrieved September 24, 2023, from www.marchofdimes.org/peristats.
In 2021, there were 2,325 preterm births in Puerto Rico, representing 12.0% of live births.
In 2021, 1 in 8 babies (12.0% of live births) was born preterm in Puerto Rico.