U.S. Scores D+ On Maternal, Infant Health; Abortion-Restrictive States Rank Lowest

Updated Story Preterm birth rates held relatively steady at a decade-long high in 2023, with data revealing persistent racial disparities across key maternal and infant health indicators, according to March of Dimes’ 2023 report card released Thursday (Nov. 16). National preterm birth rates improved slightly, but the United States retained its D+ grade for the second consecutive year. States with the worst grades are mostly clustered in the Southeast, and also tend to have strict abortion bans...