The Bayou State receives an F on the 2021 March of Dimes report card for a preterm birth rate of 13-percent. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says while it’s always disappointing to get a poor grade…
“But at the same time, I think that for me it is inspirational, and it lights a under us to better for our moms and better for our babies,” said Gillespie-Bell.
Gillespie-Bell says while the state received a poor grade however in some parishes the preterm birth rate has improved, for example, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Orleans Parishes. And says the state does have programs in place that the March of Dimes recommends in helping reduce preterm birth rates.
“The Medicaid expansion that was done several years ago, the fact that we have a Perinatal Quality Collaborative and that we have our Maternal Mortality Review Committee,” said Gillespie-Bell.
In addition to those programs, another factor to aid in preterm births Gillespie-Bell says is the doula registry that was established in the 2021 legislative session, which requires services from midwives to be covered by health insurance. She believes it will make a difference.
“And so I’m excited to see the report card and to see our work come to fruition next year,” said Gillespie-Bell.
The report card also indicated that the preterm birth rate among Black women is 55% higher than the rate among all other women.
The view the March of Dimes report card click here.
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