One in eight babies born in the U.S. is premature, and the number in Kentucky is even higher at one in seven.

Half of extremely premature infants who survive have mental or physical disabilities, a quarter of them severe.

Western Baptist is one of six Kentucky hospitals taking part in a national premature birth study, co-sponsored by the March of Dimes, Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute and the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

“This study is important because it will have an impact on the health of babies in the future,” said Monna Sweatt, director of Maternal-Child Services at Western Baptist.

The three-year $1.5 million study, which began in January, will involve strategies to reduce premature births.