The problem of having babies born too soon is enormous in Mississippi, but it's getting smaller all the time. From 2009 to 2014, Mississippi reduced births earlier than 37 weeks by 11 percent overall and by 16 percent in the African-American community. The state also saw an 18 percent increase in the number of babies born at full term, over 39 weeks. For these efforts, Mississippi received the March of Dimes Virginia Apgar Award, which recognizes states that lowered preterm birth rates by at least 8 percent from 2009 to 2014.
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