A new report released by the United Nations agencies on Tuesday finds that preterm birth rates have not changed in any region in the world in the past decade, with 152 million vulnerable babies born too soon from 2010 to 2020.
The report also showed that an estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020, with nearly one million dying from preterm complications.
This is equivalent to around one in 10 babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) worldwide.
The report titled ‘Born too soon: decade of action on preterm birth’ is produced by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund together with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.
The report also highlights that the impacts of conflict, climate change and environmental damage, COVID-19, and rising living costs are increasing risks for women and babies everywhere.
Maternal health risks, such as adolescent pregnancy and pre-eclampsia, are closely linked to preterm births. This underlines the need to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services, including effective family planning, with high-quality care during pregnancy and around the time of birth.
