Maine CDC was honored by the
National March of Dimes last month with the Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Prematurity Leadership Award for decreasing the prematurity rate in the
state from 9.9% in 2011 to 9.2%.
Dr. Sheila Pinette, Director of
Maine CDC, pledged in 2011 to work to meet the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials' Presidential challenge to try to decrease
the preterm birth rate in our state by 8% by 2014 (goal is 9).
This progress has been achieved
through partnership and collaboration with more than 30 hospitals, insurance
companies, and our strong perinatal/neonatal healthcare system in this state.
Maine delivers approximately
13,000 infants annually, with 1,030 born prior to 36 weeks gestation. Of
those, approximately 22.6% will go on to die in the first year due to
complications of prematurity. Maine has the fifth-lowest infant
mortality rate in the nation.
