There are 13 million premature births worldwide according to a report recently issued by the US group March of Dimes. That comes to preterm births equal to 9.6% of all births in the world.
In regards to the study, a preterm birth is referred to as being under 37 weeks gestation.
The problems seems to be the highest in Africa and Asia, where the number of premature births equals 85% of all premature births in the world. Poverty, malnutrition, and lack of prenatal care may have roles in this.
North America, which includes the United States and Canada, has premature birth rates at 10.6%. The United States has a staggering 12.7% of all births being premature, while Canada sits at 8.2%.
The United States has seen a 36% increase in preterm births over the last 25 years, largely due to women over the age of 35 becoming pregnant, and the increase in infertility treatments.
“Premature births are an enormous global problem that is exacting a huge toll emotionally, physically, and financially on families, medical systems and economies,” said March of Dimes president Jennifer Howse. “In the United States alone, the annual cost of caring for preterm babies and their associated health problems tops 26 billion dollars annually,” Howse said in a statement.
“If world leaders are serious about reaching the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, then strategies and funding for reducing death and disability related to preterm birth must receive priority,” Howse said.
One of the problems from the report is the inconsistency of definitions for preterm birth around the world. So there may be some inaccuracies. Authorities are claiming it is crucial to set a worldwide standard for defining prematurity, so that future reports and studies can deliver as accurate results as possible.
It seems we can only expect to see more preterm births in the future. The concerns that need to be addressed are lack of healthcare and prenatal care around the world, and preterm births related to infertility treatments, especially those that result in pregnancies with multiples.
Doctors have been able to identify certain risks that can lead to preterm birth, but have yet to find a consistent manner in which to prevent them as a whole. Education for girls and women at an early age could help, in hopes of preventing them from making decisions that could lead to a premature delivery.
