Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth

Born Too Soon, a report published in 2012 by a global team of leading international organisations, academic institutions and United Nations agencies, is the second report to highlight the figures and trends for preterm births globally. The first global and regional rates were published in 2010, however estimates in the 2012 report show that the global burden of preterm births is higher than previously reported and is increasing annually. Although preterm birth represents a global issue, low-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, experience the greatest burden.Newborn deaths account for 40% of under-5 mortality and have shown less improvement than in infant and child survival. Preterm birth represents one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and a key challenge to meeting the Millennium Development Goals to improve maternal and child survival. Premature babies who survive are more likely to experience a lifetime of disability.Key facts include:

• Of the 11 countries with the highest preterm birth rates (over 15%) in 2010, all but two are in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Nigeria is third amongst the ten countries accounting for the highest absolute number of preterm births, after India and China. Together, these 10 countries account for 60% of all preterm births worldwide.
• In sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia, these high absolute numbers of preterm births are due, in part, to high fertility and the large number of births in those two regions in comparison to other parts of the world.
• On average, Africa is improving mortality rates for preterm babies by only 1% a year.
• The risk of a neonatal death due to complications of preterm birth is about twelve times higher for an African baby than for a European baby.
• Overall, the rate of decline for mortality reductions remains insufficient to reach the targets set by the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
• Globally, the highest burden countries in terms of preterm birth have very low levels of provider-initiated preterm birth (less than 5% in most African countries).
• Nurses or midwives with skills in critical areas such as resuscitation, KMC, safe oxygen management and breastfeeding support are the frontline worker for premature babies, yet in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa there are no known neonatal nurse training courses.
• In 2010, 12 deaths per 1000 live births were due to prematurity in sub-Saharan Africa.

To read report, click here