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A profile of prematurity in

In an average week in Kentucky

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999

babies are born

112

babies are born preterm

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Late preterm birth is between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation.

84

babies are born late preterm

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15

babies are born very preterm

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Preterm BirthKentucky

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Kentucky, 2007-2023

PERCENTAGE OF LIVE BIRTHS

  • In 2023, there were 5,861 preterm births in Kentucky, representing 11.3% of live births.
  • In 2023, 1 in 9 babies (11.3% of live births) was born preterm in Kentucky.

County Rates, 2020-2023 Average

PERCENTAGE OF LIVE BIRTHS

 

Higher than KY Rate of 11.5 (61)

Between MOD 2020 goal of 9.4 and KY Rate (53)

Met or lower than MOD 2020 goal of 9.4 (5)

Suppressed (1) * *

state table of county preterm birth rates

© 2025 March of Dimes Foundation
All rights reserved.

Preterm Birth by Race and EthnicityKentucky

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The March of Dimes is concerned about inequities in health and health care that contribute to higher rates of preterm birth among different racial and ethnic groups. ?

Percentage of live births in 2021-2023 Average that are preterm

Risk Factors for Preterm Birth

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Rather than having one cause, preterm birth seems to be triggered by multiple, interacting biologic and environmental factors. We do know that a history of preterm birth, multiple gestations, and certain uterine and/or cervical problems are the strongest risk factors for preterm birth. The factors below also contribute to preterm birth.

Maternal age

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During 2021-2023 (average) in Kentucky, preterm birth rates were highest for women ages 40 and older (16.4%), followed by women ages 30-39 (12.2%), under age 20 (11.9%) and ages 20-29 (11.1%).

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Smoking

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In 2022, 13.4% of women of childbearing age reported smoking in Kentucky. Smoking is an important determinant of health and a significant factor contributing to preterm births.

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Multiple births

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In Kentucky in 2023, 9.5% of singleton births were preterm, compared to 66.0% of multiple births. Multiple births represent 3.2% of live births in Kentucky. Current multifetal pregnancy is one of the most consistently identified risk factors for preterm birth.

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Birth spacing

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Birth spacing, or inter-pregnancy interval, is the timing between a live birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy. Birth spacing of less than 18 months increases the risk of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes. In the United States, 33.1% of pregnancies with a prior live birth have a birth spacing of less than 18 months.

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Obesity

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While obesity does not directly cause preterm birth, it does increase rates of medical complications (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) that contribute to preterm birth. In Kentucky, 37.1% of women of childbearing age were obese in 2022.

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Health insurance coverage

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In 2021, about 1 in 15 women of childbearing age (6.9%) was uninsured in Kentucky. Health care before, during and after pregnancy can help identify and manage conditions that contribute to preterm birth.

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Other contributing factors

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Other factors contributing to preterm birth include: infection (especially genito-urinary), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, late or no prenatal care, alcohol and illicit drug use, and social determinants of health. Socioeconomic status at both the individual and community level (e.g., income/poverty, job status, education) as well as psychosocial factors (e.g., chronic stress, lack of social support) are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

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Consequences of Preterm Birth

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Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death and disability among infants, including developmental delays, chronic respiratory problems, and vision and hearing impairment. In addition to the health consequences of preterm birth, the emotional and economic impact of preterm birth on families is too high.

  • In Kentucky in 2022, the infant mortality rate due to prematurity/low birthweight was 82.2 per 100,000 live births, which accounts for 14.2% (302) of all infant deaths.

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Preterm-related and other leading causes of infant deaths,
United States, 2019


Preterm-related cause of death

Not preterm-related cause of death

36.0%

infant deaths are preterm-related?

When causes of death related to preterm birth are grouped together, preterm-related causes account for more than one third (36.3%) of infant deaths in the United States. (See figure.)

$25.2B

Associated with preterm birth

In 2016, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth in the United States was at least $25.2 billion.

March of Dimes National Prematurity Campaign

The Mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, preterm birth, and infant mortality. Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death and a major determinant of illness and disability among infants. The March of Dimes leads the national Prematurity Campaign, with the goal of achieving equity and demonstrated improvements in preterm birth. For more information, visit marchofdimes.org/prematurity

Sources

National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prematurity risk factors compiled by March of Dimes available at marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/preterm-labor-and-birth.aspx.

IPUMS-USA, University of Minnesota, ipums.org. American Community Survey, US Census Bureau.

Blumenshine P, Egerter S, Barclay CJ, et al. Socioeconomic disparities in adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med 2010;39(3):263-72.

National Center for Health Statistics, period linked birth/infant death data.

Long-term health effects of preterm birth compiled by March of Dimes available at marchofdimes.org/complications/long-term-health-effects-of-premature-birth.aspx

Waitzman NJ, Jalali A, Grosse SD. Preterm birth lifetime costs in the United States in 2016: An update. Semin Perinatol. 2021 Apr;45(3):151390. doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151390. Epub 2021 Jan 24. PMID: 33541716