Born Too Soon: The global epidemiology of 15 million preterm births
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 15 November 2013
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Reproductive Health
- Vol. 10 (S1), S2
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-10-s1-s2
Abstract
This second paper in the Born Too Soon supplement presents a review of the epidemiology of preterm birth, and its burden globally, including priorities for action to improve the data. Worldwide an estimated 11.1% of all livebirths in 2010 were born preterm (14.9 million babies born before 37 weeks of gestation), with preterm birth rates increasing in most countries with reliable trend data. Direct complications of preterm birth account for one million deaths each year, and preterm birth is a risk factor in over 50% of all neonatal deaths. In addition, preterm birth can result in a range of long-term complications in survivors, with the frequency and severity of adverse outcomes rising with decreasing gestational age and decreasing quality of care. The economic costs of preterm birth are large in terms of immediate neonatal intensive care, ongoing long-term complex health needs, as well as lost economic productivity. Preterm birth is a syndrome with a variety of causes and underlying factors usually divided into spontaneous and provider-initiated preterm births. Consistent recording of all pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirths, and standard application of preterm definitions is important in all settings to advance both the understanding and the monitoring of trends. Context specific innovative solutions to prevent preterm birth and hence reduce preterm birth rates all around the world are urgently needed. Strengthened data systems are required to adequately track trends in preterm birth rates and program effectiveness. These efforts must be coupled with action now to implement improved antenatal, obstetric and newborn care to increase survival and reduce disability amongst those born too soon.Keywords
This publication has 79 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mortality risk in preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants in low-income and middle-income countries: a pooled country analysisThe Lancet, 2013
- Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010The Lancet, 2012
- Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000The Lancet, 2012
- Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes after intrauterine and neonatal insults: a systematic reviewThe Lancet, 2012
- Gestational Age Patterns of Fetal and Neonatal Mortality in Europe: Results from the Euro-Peristat ProjectPLOS ONE, 2011
- 3.6 Million Neonatal Deaths—What Is Progressing and What Is Not?Seminars in Perinatology, 2010
- Global report on preterm birth and stillbirth (2 of 7): discovery scienceBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2010
- A case-control study of preterm delivery risk factors according to clinical subtypes and severityJournal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 2010
- Making stillbirths count, making numbers talk - Issues in data collection for stillbirthsBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2009
- Epidemiology and causes of preterm birthThe Lancet, 2008