World Prematurity Day is a day on which countries around the world seek to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of preterm birth. Every year, around 15 million babies are born preterm, that is to say born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Complications of preterm birth are the leading cause of death amongst children under five years of age, responsible for nearly one million deaths in 2013. Without appropriate treatment, survivors of complications of preterm birth are at increased risk of lifelong disability and poor quality of life.
We can save many more babies with effective interventions. We must focus our efforts on how to improve the outcomes for babies that are born preterm.Dr Femi Oladapo, Department of Reproductive Health and Research
New guidance
WHO’s new guidance WHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes has been launched to help prevent the complications and consequences of preterm birth. Adding to efforts worldwide to further reduce child mortality, the guidance offers recommendations on interventions which can be provided to the mother when preterm birth is imminent and to the preterm infant after birth, with the aim of improving outcomes for preterm infants.
Key interventions
A set of key interventions are included in the new guidance, which can improve the chance of survival and health outcomes for preterm infants. It includes interventions provided to the mother – for example steroid injections before birth, antibiotics when her water breaks, and magnesium sulfate to prevent future neurological impairment of the child – as well as interventions for the baby – for example thermal care (keeping the baby warm), safe oxygen use, and use of surfactant (a specific medicine) to help infants breathe more easily.
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