NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A report released Monday says that Tennessee has some of the worst infant and maternal death rates in the country.

March of Dimes said that the U.S. is not doing enough to protect mothers and newborns. The group’s annual report card gave the country a D+, calling pre-term birth rates a crisis in the country.

Tennessee scored worse than the US, with a D- score for its pre-term birth rate. The Volunteer State also ranked last for its maternal mortality and scored in the bottom half of states for most categories.

The annual report card from March of Dimes, a group supporting research, education and advocacy for moms and babies, was released on Monday in recognition of World Prematurity Day. The nonprofit said it “measures the state of maternal and infant health

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