HQ Team
May 10, 2023: About 152 million vulnerable babies were born too soon in the last decade ended 2020 and South Asian and Sub-Saharan regions accounted for more than 65% of preterm birth annually, the WHO stated.
Nearly one million babies died from complications and preterm births are the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for one in five deaths of children up to five years, the report ‘Born too Soon’ stated.
Preterm survivors can face lifelong health consequences, with an increased likelihood of disability and developmental delays, according to the emailed report from the WHO, UNICEF, and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.
Preterm births, which occur before 37 weeks of pregnancy, are a “silent emergency…long under-recognized in its scale and severity, which is impeding progress in improving children’s health and survival.”
The report found that the pattern of preterm birth rates has not changed in any region in the world in the past decade. Only one in ten extremely preterm babies, less than 28 weeks, survive in low-income countries, compared to more than nine in ten in high-income countries.
Survival
Too often, where babies are born determines if they survive.
Gaping inequalities related to race, ethnicity, income, and access to quality care determined the likelihood of preterm birth, death, and disability, even in high-income countries.
Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa has he highest rates of preterm birth, and preterm babies in these regions face the highest mortality risk.
Together, these two regions account for more than 65% of preterm births globally. The impacts of conflict, climate change and environmental damage, COVID-19, and rising living costs are increasing risks for women and babies everywhere.
Air pollution is estimated to contribute to six million preterm births each year. Nearly one in ten preterm babies are born in the ten most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises.
“There is now no excuse for silence. We now have in our hands the devices and the knowledge to change outcomes for our most vulnerable newborns,” said Dr Nahya Salim, co-author and national lead of Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies 360.
Health risks
Maternal health risks, such as adolescent pregnancy and pre-eclampsia, are closely linked to preterm births. Access to sexual and reproductive health services, including effective family planning, with high-quality care during pregnancy and around the time of birth, was the need of the hour.
“The toll is devastating,” said Steven Lauwerier, Director of Health of UNICEF. “It’s time we improve access to care for pregnant mothers and preterm infants and ensure every child gets a healthy start and thrives in life. Despite the many advances the world has made in the past decade, we have made no progress in reducing the number of small babies born too soon or averting the risk of their death.”
Increased country investment and parent-led activism can provide better access to care and support to families. Locally-driven innovations can play a vital part to boost the quality of care, according to the report.
“Our next generation depends on us all acting now — the investment may not be small but the returns on this investment will be major for every country,” said Joy Lawn, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
