EAbout one in 10 babies is born prematurely, according to a new UN report, and nearly one in 13 of those die from complications from the preterm birth.
Between 2010 and 2020, 152 million babies were born prematurely, i.e. after less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN children’s fund Unicef and the Alliance Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH).
Survival of a premature baby depends on where it is born, according to the report: in high-income countries, nine out of 10 children survive, even if they are born less than 28 weeks gestation. Only one in ten in low-income countries. The report draws attention to the fact that surviving preemies can have lifelong health impairments, even in high-income countries. The risk of disabilities and developmental delays is higher than with babies who are only born after 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Around two-thirds of premature births occur in southern Asia and Africa. The organizations report that the danger to life is greatest there. Conflict, climate change and pollution increased the risks to women’s and babies’ health. Air pollution contributes to six million of a total of around 13.2 million premature births in (2020). When women have children in their teens, the risk of preterm birth is higher.
Among other things, the organizations demand that women all over the world have access to services in the field of sexual and reproductive health. This included effective family planning and good care during pregnancy and childbirth. Governments should pay more attention to the issue of preterm birth and invest in better care for pregnant women.
