ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A new nationwide March of Dimes report highlights what experts call a persisting maternal and infant health crisis in the United States — and Georgia is among the hardest-hit states.

For the fourth straight year, the U.S. received a D grade for pre-term births, the longest stretch the nation has ever held a grade that low.

Georgia fared even worse. The state earned another consecutive ‘F’ score on the annual March of Dimes Report Card , which evaluates states on maternal and infant health outcomes.

According to the report, Georgia’s pre-term birth rate in 2024 was 11.8%, nearly unchanged from the previous year and higher than the national average of 10.4%.

“Our state is in many ways failing them.”

Charles Johnson, founder of the nonprofit 4Kira4

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