MamaYe Factsheet on Preterm Birth in Sierra Leone 2015

To mark World Prematurity Day on 17 November 2015 MamaYe have produced this Factsheet on Preterm Birth in Sierra Leone. It summarises the latest evidence on prematurity and the interventions most needed to prevent it and care for preterm babies.Available evidence suggests women and their babies are more at risk of poor outcomes due to Ebola.What is preterm birth?A preterm birth is when a baby is born alive but before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. In Sierra Leone, one in four newborn deaths are due to preterm birth complications. Babies born too soon are approximately seven times more likely to die during the first four weeks of their lives than babies born at term. In addition, preterm survivors often suffer from lifelong disabilities, such as visual and hearing impairments, chronic lung disease, long term cardiovascular ill-health, learning and behavioural impairments.  Prematurity has a far-reaching impact on their development and on their health as children and adults.Preterm birth is a public health problem in Sierra LeoneEvery year, 23,000 babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. This is one in every 10 babies born alive in Sierra Leone.  Prematurity is the second largest cause of death for babies in the first month of life, with 2,100 newborn deaths due to preterm birth every year.What can be done in Sierra Leone?Many of these deaths could be prevented, through both prevention of preterm birth, and care for the premature baby.

• Adolescent pregnancy, older age pregnancy, short time gaps between births, chronic and infectious diseases, and unhealthy pre-pregnancy weight increase the risk of preterm birth
• Family planning strategies, including birth spacing and adolescent-friendly services, can reduce the risk of preterm birth
• Encourage early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding
• Quality antenatal and postnatal care, along with skilled care at delivery, can help to reduce deaths due to preterm birth. Investing in trained and equipped health workers is key, with a focus on the 48 hours surrounding birth
• In August 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published new recommendations to improve the survival and health of babies born too soon.  Decision-makers should review and revise national clinical guidelines and essential medicines lists; promote the new recommendations widely; strengthen the skills of health workers to  deliver the interventions; support health workers to accurately assess gestational age; and monitor adherence to the guidelines

In 2014 Sierra Leone committed to the Every Newborn Action Plan. This strategy sets out the priority solutions, and calls for a united effort to dramatically maternal and newborn deaths, and preventable stillbirths.We must prioritise the evidence-based, cost-effective and feasible solutions in all health facilities that provide pregnancy and delivery services, as well as ensure better data collection on pregnancy outcomes to enable responsive action where it is most needed.Now is the time to scale up quality care to all women and newborns for them to survive, thrive and transform society!To view the factsheet, click here.Evidence for Action. (2015). MamaYe Factsheet on Preterm Birth in Sierra Leone. London: Evidence for Action.