The latest March of Dimes report reveals a troubling rise in preterm births across the United States. Between 2023 and 2024, rates increased in 21 states, with particularly stark racial disparities. Preterm births among babies born to Black women rose to 14.7 percent, significantly higher than the rate for white women. The report also shows that, for the fourth consecutive year, fewer pregnant people accessed prenatal care in the first trimester, reflecting a worsening trend in maternal health access.
Louisiana stands out as one of the most severely affected states. In 2024, 14 percent of babies were born prematurely—up from 13.4 percent the previous year and higher than rates from a decade ago. Racial gaps are even more pronounced here: 17.4 percent of births among Black women are preterm, compared to 11.6 percent among white women. These figures far exceed the national preterm birth rate of 10.4 percent.
The state’s challenges are compounded by a growing reproductive health crisis. Over a quarter of Louisiana’s parishes are considered maternity deserts, leaving many without nearby birthing centers or maternity care providers. Strict abortion bans have further obstructed timely prenatal care, as some providers fear legal consequences when treating miscarriages that might be mistaken for abortions.
Environmental factors add another layer of harm. A 2024 Human Rights Watch report linked high rates of preterm and low birth weight births to petrochemical pollution in Cancer Alley and other industrialized areas, most of which are predominantly Black communities. One study cited in the report found that people living in areas with the highest air pollution faced a 25 percent higher risk of preterm birth compared to those in cleaner environments.
While environmental justice advocates have made progress demanding stronger protections and greater transparency, regulatory rollbacks under the Trump administration threaten to undo key safeguards, including rules that limit exposure to pregnancy-harming pollutants such as benzene. The combination of weakened regulations, inequitable healthcare access, and entrenched pollution risks raises serious concerns that preterm birth rates in the US may continue to worsen.
