Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Research and Discoveries/Data is key to understanding prematurity

Data is key to understanding prematurity

 

January 27, 2010
0 Comments
By: Kate Setter

In November, I introduced the issue of prematurity as one that we care deeply about at Cincinnati Children’s. Since that time, the March of Dimes has issued their annual report card, and the news for Ohio isn’t good.

 In the state-by-state assessment of infant mortality, a statistic that is largely based on preterm births, Ohio received an F.

Despite advances in neonatal and perinatal medicine, certain aspects of pregnancy continue to perplex physicians and researchers. The rate of preterm birth in the United States continues to climb. And substantial investments in high-level medical care, as well as good health conditions aren’t making the impact that we’d like.

 While we are hopeful that our prematurity initiative will have impact in our community and ultimately reduce the instance of premature birth in Cincinnati, we also know that social issues aren’t the only influencing factors.

The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that 12.8 percent of all births occur before 37 weeks, a 36% increase from the early 1980’s. The growing number of infants born between 32 and 34 weeks, the so-called late preterm infants, accounts for much of the increase during this time period.

 So we begin wondering, why has this population seen such growth?

 Ultimately, we believe the answer to that question lies somewhere in the data.

 It’s become apparent that solutions require an understanding of the continuum of fetal health from pre-conception to long-term postnatal outcomes. That understanding can only be derived from data linking mothers with their babies.

 Ultimately, improvements in pregnancy outcomes will require integration of data from the mother, the fetus/neonate and the community. The more information we have, the closer we get to understanding how factors such as maternal health and obstetrical practice affect neonatal outcomes beyond the delivery room.

 We’ve long believed that you can’t improve without measuring, so that’s what we’re doing. We measure everything and retain every piece of data we can get our hands on. With continued focus on this data, we are beginning to see the links that just might offer the information we need to reverse the trend of increasing preterm births in our state and our country.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Prematurity
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Prematurity
Newer Imaging Techniques for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Newer Imaging Techniques for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
5 Tips for Parents of a Premature Baby
5 Tips for Parents of a Premature Baby
In Memory of Liam
In Memory of Liam
TAGS:
  • Perinatal Institute
  • prematurity
Avatar photo

About the author: Kate Setter

Kate manages social media at Cincinnati Children's, a role that she loves because it gives her opportunities to help families find stories and pediatric health information that they want and need. Kate is the mother of two elementary-age kiddos.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 2.2k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.4k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 0.9k views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 707 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 617 views
  • What’s the difference between a CAT-Scan and a CT-Scan? 545 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center