Born Too Soon

Some facts from the new World Health Organization Report

Some preterm births result from early induction of labor or cesarean birth whether for medical or non-medical reasons.  Most preterm births happen spontaneously. Common causes include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified.

Over 60% of preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia . The 10 countries with the highest numbers include Brazil, the United States, India and Nigeria, demonstrating that preterm birth is truly a global problem.  Of the 11 countries with preterm birth rates of over 15%, all but two are in
sub-Saharan Africa (Figure 2).  In the poorest countries, on average, 12% of babies are born too soon compared with 9% in higher-income countries. Within countries, poorer
families are at higher risk.

There is a dramatic survival gap for premature babies depending on where they are born. For example, over 90% of extremely preterm babies (<28 weeks) born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life; yet less than 10% of babies of this gestation die in high-income settings, a 10:90 survival gap.

For more information, read the full report at our website: http://health.utah.gov/disparities/data.html#national