Missouri’s premature birth rate is on the rise according to a new March of Dimes Report Card. The report said Missouri has a 10.2 percent premature birth rate, an increase from the previous year’s 10 percent. The national average is 9.6 percent. Illinois received a similar score of 10.3 percent. The report said St. Louis City received an “F” with 13.3 percent of births being premature.