Florida falls short again

By Martin Merzer on 11/17/2010 @ 09:07 AM

On one hand, we know that the Legislature faces an unprecedented budget crunch and that small-government, cut-it-to-the-bone advocates are now in control. But on the other hand, we also know this:

Florida's children and their parents face their own intensifying crises.

The following article from Wednesday's Tallahassee Democrat provides new evidence of that.

No need to summarize it. The article - and the situation is describes - speaks for itself.

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By Amanda Nalley

Tallahassee Democrat

The state of Florida has earned an "F" for the third straight year on the March of Dimes' annual report card on premature birth.

"We still have a lot of work to do," said Kristy Goldwire, quality assurance director of Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition, a local agency working to improve the system of care for women and babies.

The organization released the report card Tuesday, Prematurity Awareness Day. According to the report, 13.8 percent of Florida's babies were born too soon in 2008, the most recent figures provided. Compared to other states, Florida has the sixth-highest rate, not including Puerto Rico (19.6 percent). Any state with a preterm birth rate greater than or equal to 13.2 percent gets an "F."

'Multifaceted approach'

Twelve other states also received a failing grade, and all but Nevada were in the southern United States.

"Addressing preterm delivery is going to require a multifaceted approach," said Dr. Bill Sappenfield with the Florida Department of Health. "The state is trying to strategically address this in several ways. One is to work on promoting preconception health, and the second is to work with health care providers."

The percentage of smokers of childbearing age in Florida fell from 19.8 percent to 19.2 percent, and the late preterm birth rate dropped from 9.8 percent to 9.7 percent. Yet the number of uninsured women rose from 27 percent to 27.9 percent.

"We hope that by reducing risk factors, we will see our state's rate of premature births improve in the future," March of Dimes Florida Chapter Chair John Hadden said.

Shining a spotlight

In Leon County, the average was 13.0 percent and decreased over the past three years.

"We hope this report card will shine a spotlight on this problem," said March of Dimes spokesperson Rochelle Darman. "States can help address the higher rates of preterm birth by helping more women quit smoking and helping to improve access to health care for women of childbearing age."

The United States overall earned a "D" with a 12.3-percent preterm birth rate (down from 12.7 percent). That means more than a half-million newborns were born premature. In 2008, the United States experienced its first rate decline in three decades.

Grades are based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 goal of 7.6 percent. These goals were set to help increase the quality and years of a healthy life.

"More than half-a-million babies still are born preterm each year, a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine," Darman said in a press release. "Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive often face lifetime health challenges, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities."

One way the March of Dimes hopes to lower the number is by limiting early elective deliveries — an induction or Caesarean section scheduled before 39 completed weeks of gestation for non-medical reasons. It is partnering with six Florida hospitals for a year to help eliminate early elective deliveries.

The hospitals are Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers; Plantation General Hospital in Plantation; Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton; South Miami Hospital in Miami; Broward General Medical Center; and St. Joseph Women's Hospital in Tampa.

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q will donate a portion of all proceeds to the March of Dimes today.

Visit marchofdimes.com to learn more.