For Immediate Release

Chicago - Citing premature birth as the number one killer of American newborns, the March of Dimes has named November as Prematurity Awareness Month to draw attention to this increasingly common, costly and serious public health problem. Between 1981 and 2003, the rate of premature births rose from 9.4 percent to 12.3, an increase of almost 31 percent. Every year nearly 500,000 infants are born prematurely. That's roughly comparable to the population of Cleveland.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is a partner in the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign to fund research and education aimed at reducing prematurity by 15 percent.

To learn more, visit March of Dimes Web site