Preterm Birth Complications Outranks Leading Causes Of Death In Young Children

According to the World Health Organisation, although global mortality rates among children under the age of 5 years lowered by 3.9 percent since 2000, deaths from preterm births only decreased by 2 percent. In 2013, health problems from preterm births account for 1.1 million deaths in children under 5 years old.

During the commemoration of the Fourth World Prematurity Day on Nov 17, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-mon calls for intensified focus on issues concerning preterm birth incidence to improve women and children's welfare. More than 200 countries, UN agencies and health organisations participated in the occasion. Simultaneous events to observe WPD and promote awareness were also prepared in 60 countries.

A recent study conducted at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore confirms that preterm birth complications have caused more deaths in infants and toddlers than any other pediatric illnesses such as pneumonia. If this trend does not stop, 4 million child deaths will occur in 2030.

Researchers explained that direct complications from preterm birth during an infant's first 28 days accounts for 965,000 deaths. These complications such as disabilities, growth and cognitive impairment, caused more 125,000 deaths among young children ages 1 month to 5 years. More details on this study headed by Dr Robert Black are published in The Lancet.

Health experts conclude that ongoing efforts to fight infectious diseases among young children have improved child welfare. Even so, preventing preterm birth incidence and care for premature children must also be given equal emphasis in health programmes and studies. Since this is an urgent global concern, four research projects will be launched to have an in-depth analysis on the matter. Progress can be accomplished if underlying causes of premature births will be identified.