‘Silent Emergency’: Zero Progress in Reducing Premature Births Since 2010

News Desk

United Nations: An estimated 13.4 million babies were born premature in 2020, with nearly a million dying from pre-term complications. Almost 45 percent of the 13.4 million preterm births in 2020 happened in five countries: Pakistan, India, Nigeria, China, and Ethiopia, according to a new United Nations report.

Preterm birth rates have not changed in any region of the world in the past decade, with 152 million vulnerable babies born too soon from 2010 to 2020,

A ‘silent emergency’ is claiming one million tiny lives born prematurely each year, requiring concerted action to swiftly improve children’s health and survival, said the report titled ‘Born Too Soon: A Decade of Action on Preterm Birth’, released by UN agencies and partners on Wednesday.

Premature births claim a million lives yearly worldwide: UN report

Produced by a range of agencies, including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with its Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), the report outlines a strategy to address this phenomenon, which has been long under-recognized in its scale and severity.

PMNCH Executive Director Helga Fogstad said, “Maternal and infant health, as well as the prevention of stillbirths, are making no progress.”

The deadly interaction of COVID-19, climate change, escalating conflicts, and rising living costs is now pushing gains made back further. Helga added that governments, donors, the private sector, civil society, parents, and health experts can all work together to raise awareness of this silent emergency by collaborating.

Preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than one in five of all deaths of children occurring before their fifth birthday: UN report

Fogstad further stated that this entails prioritising preterm prevention and care in national health and development initiatives and fostering the development of human capital by assisting all families, societies, and economies.

Preterm births occur earlier than 37 weeks of an expected 40-week full-term pregnancy. The report included updated estimates from WHO and UNICEF, prepared with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, on the prevalence of preterm births.

UNICEF Director of Health Steven Lauwerier noted that every preterm death created ‘a trail of loss and heartbreak’.

Despite the numerous advancements made in the last ten years, neither the number of children born prematurely nor the risk of their mortality has decreased. The cost is catastrophic. It’s time to ensure that all children have a healthy start in life and have better access to treatment for pregnant women and preterm infants.

Nearly one in 10 preterm babies is born in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises: Report

Preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than one in five of all deaths of children occurring before their fifth birthday, the report said.

Preterm survivors can face lifelong health consequences, including an increased likelihood of disability and developmental delays. Too often, where babies are born determines if they survive, the report found, noting that only 1 in 10 extremely preterm babies survive in low-income countries, compared to more than nine in 10 in high-income nations.

The report showed gaping inequalities related to race, ethnicity, income, and access to quality care, determine the likelihood of preterm birth, death, and disability, even in high-income countries. The majority of preterm births worldwide –more than 65 per cent –occur in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

More than 65% of preterm births worldwide take place in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia: Report 

Risks for mothers and infants worldwide are rising as a result of additional circumstances. For instance, the survey revealed that air pollution is thought to be a factor in six million premature births annually.

UN agencies, including the UN Population Fund, WHO, and UNICEF, are urging a series of actions to save lives, including boosting newborn health investments, accelerating national policy implementation, integrating efforts across sectors, and supporting locally led innovation and research to support enhancements in care quality and equity in access.