One in 10 of the some 130 million births around the world each year is premature, the vast majority in poorer countries where chances of survival are low, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
One in 10 of the some 130 million births around the world each year is premature, the vast majority in poorer countries where chances of survival are low, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
An article in the January issue of WHO's Bulletin also reported a dramatic rise in pre-term births in a range of richer countries over the past 20 years, especially in North America and parts of Europe. Based on studies from the mid-1990s to 2007, the report said 85 percent of births before the normal 37-week human gestation period were in Asia, with some 70 million, and in Africa, with more than 40 million annually.
The highest rates of pre-term deliveries against the overall total of births were in Africa, with an average of nearly 12 percent, and North America, with 10.6 percent. In Europe, the figure was only 6.2 percent and in Latin America and the Caribbean just 9.1 percent.
In absence of effective medical care in Asian countries, children born at 32 weeks, weighing less than 2,000 grams, have little chances of survival. By contrast, an infant born at 32 weeks in a developed country is as likely to survive as one born at full term.
The large numbers of premature births in Asia - mainly in and around the Indian sub-continent where the average is 11.4 percent - and Africa, where in the southern region it reaches 17.5 per cent, were largely due to absence of drugs to treat infections suffered by mothers during pregnancy.
An article in the January issue of WHO's Bulletin also reported a dramatic rise in pre-term births in a range of richer countries over the past 20 years, especially in North America and parts of Europe. Based on studies from the mid-1990s to 2007, the report said 85 percent of births before the normal 37-week human gestation period were in Asia, with some 70 million, and in Africa, with more than 40 million annually.
The highest rates of pre-term deliveries against the overall total of births were in Africa, with an average of nearly 12 percent, and North America, with 10.6 percent. In Europe, the figure was only 6.2 percent and in Latin America and the Caribbean just 9.1 percent.
In absence of effective medical care in Asian countries, children born at 32 weeks, weighing less than 2,000 grams, have little chances of survival. By contrast, an infant born at 32 weeks in a developed country is as likely to survive as one born at full term.
The large numbers of premature births in Asia - mainly in and around the Indian sub-continent where the average is 11.4 percent - and Africa, where in the southern region it reaches 17.5 per cent, were largely due to absence of drugs to treat infections suffered by mothers during pregnancy.
COMMENT
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
