According to a recent report released on Thursday by UN agencies and their partners, it has been determined that approximately 13.4 million infants were born prematurely in the year 2020. Tragically, nearly one million of these infants succumbed to complications associated with preterm birth.
The data corresponds to approximately 10% of infants who are delivered prematurely, prior to completing 37 weeks of gestation on a global scale. The elevated figures are attributed to inadequate maternal health and malnutrition, as stated by health experts.
According to a joint statement by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, there is a pressing necessity to enhance both the care provided to preterm infants and the preventive measures, with a specific focus on maternal health and nutrition. This is crucial in order to enhance the chances of survival during early childhood, as prematurity stands as the primary cause of mortality in this age group.
According to their statement, individuals who experience preterm birth face a considerably higher risk of encountering severe illnesses, disabilities, developmental delays, and even chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions later in life.
Maternal health risks
Similar to other significant trends concerning maternal health, there has been no substantial reduction in the prevalence of preterm births across any global region in the past decade. The yearly global rate of decline in preterm births from 2010 to 2020 was a mere 0.14 percent.
According to Dr. Anshu Banerjee, the Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at the World Health Organization (WHO), infants born prematurely are particularly susceptible to severe health complications that can potentially be fatal. As a result, these infants require specialized care and focused attention.
Global estimates
The scholarly article titled “National, Regional, and Global Estimates of Preterm Birth in 2020, with Trends from 2010: A Systematic Analysis” presents comprehensive data on preterm births worldwide, at regional and national levels, covering the period from 2010 to 2020. The study highlights significant variations in preterm birth rates across different regions and countries.
Approximately 65% of premature births in the year 2020 were observed in the regions of sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. These regions accounted for a preterm birth rate of over 13% among newborns. The rates observed in the countries most severely impacted, namely Bangladesh, Malawi, and Pakistan, are three to four times greater than those observed in the countries least affected, namely Serbia, Moldova, and Kazakhstan.
Preterm birth rates
The occurrence of preterm birth is not limited solely to low and middle-income countries. The available data indicates that it has a global impact on families across various regions. Some high-income countries, such as Greece and the United States of America, experience rates of 10 percent or higher.
Dr. Banerjee emphasized the pressing necessity for substantial investment in services aimed at providing support to individuals and their families. Additionally, there is a need for a heightened emphasis on preventive measures, specifically ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare prior to and throughout the entirety of each pregnancy.
The occurrence of preterm births is closely associated with various maternal health risks, including but not limited to adolescent pregnancy, infections, inadequate nutrition, and pre-eclampsia. The provision of high-quality antenatal care plays a crucial role in the identification and effective management of complications during pregnancy. It also serves to facilitate accurate determination of gestational age through the utilization of early ultrasound scans. Additionally, when necessary, approved treatments can be employed to effectively postpone the onset of labor.
About the studies
This study utilizes data from population-based and nationally representative sources to calculate estimates for the year 2020 at the country level, allowing for international comparisons. The publication of these national estimates in this paper and on the World Health Organization (WHO) website represents their initial release.
The improvement in birth registration and the increasing number of facility-based deliveries have led to enhanced data regarding the prevalence of preterm birth. Nevertheless, there are still gaps in the available data, as 92 countries do not possess sufficient nationally representative data.
The authors advocate for the ongoing dedication to enhance the availability and quality of data, as well as the sharing of data, in order to effectively target support and action in areas that require it the most.
