1 in 10 babies are born too soon. Worldwide.
15 million preterm births are seen each year and this rate is rising
1.
>60% of preterm births occur in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
5 to 18% is the range of preterm birth rates (per 100 live births) across 184 countries of the world.
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3.
1.1 million babies die from preterm birth complications each year.
2.
75% of deaths of premature babies across the world could be prevented with feasible, cost effective care.
4.
Learn more about preterm births and World Prematurity Day by visiting the following websites of leading organisations :
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European Foundation for Care of Newborn and Infants (EFCNI)
The March of Dimes
https://www.marchofdimes.org/mission/prematurity-campaign.aspx
World Health Organisation - The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
http://www.who.int/pmnch/about/en/
BLISS for Babies born Premature or Sick
https://www.bliss.org.uk/support-bliss/world-prematurity-day/what-is-world-prematurity-day
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more preterm facts
World Prematurity Day is observed on 17 November each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide. Urgent action is always requested to address preterm birth given that the first country-level estimates show that globally 15 million babies are born too soon and rates are increasing in most countries with reliable time trend data.
Preterm birth is critical for progress on Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG) for child survival by 2015 and beyond, and gives added value to maternal health (MDG 5) investments also linking to non-communicable diseases. For preterm babies who survive, the additional burden of prematurity-related disability may affect families and health systems.
