WHO Report on Preterm Births

Why in news?

World Health Organization (WHO) has released the “Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth” report highlighting the urgent need to address the preterm births.

What is preterm birth?

• Preterm babies - Babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.
• Subcategories of preterm births
  • Extremely preterm - less than 28 weeks
  • Very preterm - 28 to less than 32 weeks
  • Moderate to late preterm - 32 to 37 weeks
• Reasons for preterm births
  • Spontaneously
  • Medical reasons – Infection, chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, pregnancy complications that require early induction of labour or caesarean birth
  • Other reasons - Multiple pregnancies
  • There could also be a genetic influence

Preterm birth is the 4th leading cause of loss of human capital worldwide, at all ages.

What are the key findings of the report?

• Preterm birth – It is the single largest killer of children under five years of age.
• Worldwide, 1 in 10 babies is born preterm (<37 weeks gestation).
• The global preterm birth rate was 9.9% in 2020, compared to 9.8% in 2010.
• Neonatal disorders- They are the leading cause of burden of disease.
• Inequalities - 9 in 10 extremely preterm babies survive in high-income countries but less than 1 in 10 survive in low-income countries.
• Regional disparity - Preterm birth rates vary between regions, the highest occurring in Southern Asia (13.2%) and sub-Saharan Africa (10.1%).
• In 2020, Bangladesh had the highest estimated preterm birth rate (16.2%), while India ranks first in terms of preterm birth numbers.
• Threat for vulnerable women and babies - The “4 Cs” – Conflict, Climate change, COVID-19 and the Cost-of-living crisis.
• Covid19 pandemic - Maternal Covid-19 infection may directly affect the foetus through pathways of viral transmission from mother to baby.

What are the impacts of the preterm births?

• Child mortality - It is the leading cause of child mortality worldwide, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 deaths of children under five years of age.
• Loss of human capital - Preterm birth is the 4th leading cause of loss of human capital worldwide, at all ages, behind ischemic heart disease, pneumonia and diarrheal disease.
• Health concern - Preterm birth damages respiratory and cardiac systems in long term for many survivors.
• Neurodevelopmental problems - Babies born between 37 and 39.9 weeks are at a slightly higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Learning and behavioral disorders - Even a few weeks preterm can cause learning and behavioral disorders.
• Adult survivors - Adult survivors of preterm births face increased risks of chronic disorders, including psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders.

SDG Target 3.2 aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030

What is the way forward?

• The quality care of the babies should be ensured to improve child health and reduce the preterm births.
• Every women should have access to quality health care.
• WHO’s antenatal care guidelines should to made aware to everyone.

References

1. The Hindu│Key Findings Of The Report
2. The Wire│Way Forward For Preterm Births
3. WHO│About Preterm Births