Scientists have shown that tiny crystals found inside bacteria provide a magnetic compass to help them navigate through sediment to find the best food, in research out today. Researchers say their study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, could provide fresh clues to explain biomagnetism - a phenomenon in which some birds,
Full Post: Tiny magnetic crystals in bacteria are a compass
New government statistics confirm that the decades-long rise in the United States preterm birth rate continues, putting more infants than ever at increased risk of death and disability.
Nearly 543,000 babies were born too soon in 2006, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, which today released “Births: Final data for 2006,” National Vital Statistics Reports; Vol. 57, No. 7. The nation’s preterm birth rate (birth before 37 completed weeks gestation) rose to 12.8 percent in 2006 — that’s a 36 percent increase since the early 1980s.
The report attributed much of the increase to the growing number of late preterm infants (those born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation), which increased 25 percent since 1990. The report also noted an increase in preterm births to Hispanic women, while rates were unchanged for non-Hispanic whites and blacks. However, black women continue to have the highest preterm birth rate, at 18.5 percent.
The preterm birth rate continued to rise despite the fact that multiple births, a known risk factor for preterm birth, have begun to stabilize. The rate of twin births was unchanged in 2005 and 2006, and triplets and higher order multiples declined 5 percent in 2006.
“The health consequences for babies who survive an early birth can be devastating and we know that preterm birth exacts a toll on the entire family - emotionally and financially,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.
“We are committed to raising public awareness about premature birth, and we believe there are concrete steps we can take to solve this problem, including ensuring that all women of childbearing age have access to health insurance and expanding our nation’s investment in research into the causes and strategies to prevent preterm birth,” Dr. Howse continued.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in the first month of life and a contributing cause in more than a third of all infant deaths. Babies who survive an early birth face the risk of serious lifelong health problems and even late preterm infants have a greater risk of breathing problems, feeding difficulties, temperature instability (hypothermia), jaundice, delayed brain development and an increased risk of cerebral palsy and mental retardation.
Last month, the March of Dimes issued its first-ever Premature Birth Report Card, which gave the United States a “D” — and not a single “A” to any state — by comparing 2005 preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 objective of 7.6 percent. The report card is online at www.marchofdimes.com/petition.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Posts:
The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - Australia’s Mothers and Babies 2006 - says that women are waiting longer to start a family. According to the report the average age of mothers giving birth in Australia is just under 30 years of age, and the average age of first-time mothers
Full Post: Women waiting longer to start a family
The United States is failing hundreds of thousands of its youngest citizens on the day they are born, according to the March of Dimes. In the first of what will be an annual Premature Birth Report Card, the nation received a “D” and not a single state earned an “A,” when the March of Dimes
Full Post: U.S. fails hundreds of thousands of its youngest citizens on the day they are born
More than half a million babies are born preterm in the United States each year, and preterm births are on the rise. Late preterm births, or births that occur between 34 and 36 weeks (approximately 4 to 6 weeks before the mother’s due date), account for more than 70% of preterm births. Despite the large
Full Post: Serious health problems related to late preterm births
The United States ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality in 2004, compared to 27th in 2000, 23rd in 1990 and 12th in 1960, according to a new report from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.78 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004, the latest
Full Post: New U.S. infant mortality data released
Giving pregnant mothers magnesium sulphate when they are at risk of very preterm birth can help protect their babies from cerebral palsy, according to an international review of research involving the University of Adelaide, Australia. The findings of this review - published today on the international research website The Cochrane Library - could help decrease
Full Post: Magnesium sulphate protects babies against cerebral palsy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
