Read online: https://www.who.int/news/item/09-05-2023-152-million-babies-born-preterm...
152 million babies born preterm in the last decade
Of every 10 babies born, 1 is preterm – and every 40 seconds, 1 of those babies dies
Preterm birth rates have not changed in the past decade in any region of the world
The impacts of conflict, climate change, COVID-19 are increasing risks for women and babies everywhere
Action is needed urgently to improve the prevention of preterm birth, alongside better care for affected babies and their families
SELECTED EXTRACTS
Too often, where babies are born determines if they survive. The report notes that only 1 in 10 extremely preterm babies (<28 weeks) survive in low-income countries, compared to more than 9 in 10 in high-income countries...
Agenda for action: more country investment and parent-led activism...
Throughout the world, groups for affected families of preterm birth have been at the forefront of advocating for access to better care and policy change and supporting other families...
Dr Nahya Salim, Tanzania: Born Too Soon co-author and national lead of Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies 360 (NEST360)
“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.”
Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO
“Ensuring quality care for these tiniest, most vulnerable babies and their families is absolutely imperative for improving child health and survival. Progress is also needed to help prevent preterm births -- this means every woman must be able to access quality health services before and during pregnancy to identify and manage risks.”
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
