Premature birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is a significant health concern affecting millions of babies worldwide each year. In Australia alone, approximately 8.6% of babies are born prematurely, equating to 26,000 births annually.
These preterm babies often face heightened health challenges, with 72% requiring admission to a Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) compared to only 10% of term babies. Globally, 13.4 million babies are born prematurely annually, accounting for 1 in 10 live births.
Prematurity Statistics
Disparities Among Populations: Rates of premature birth show stark differences across populations. Aboriginal Australians and disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected, with 16% of First Nations women experiencing preterm births compared to 7% of non-First Nations women. On a global scale, regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia face the highest premature birth rates, with countries such as Bangladesh and Malawi reporting rates of over 14%.
Multiple Births: Multiple births pose an even greater risk, with 63% of twins and 100% of triplets or higher-order multiples born prematurely compared to 7% of singleton babies.
Economic Costs: Premature birth has a substantial economic impact on health systems. In Australia, immediate care for an extremely premature newborn (<750g) costs around $216,000, while care for moderately premature babies (1.5kg–2kg) costs approximately $59,000.
Long-Term Implications: Both globally and in Australia, preterm babies face increased risks of lifelong challenges such as learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, visual and hearing impairments, and developmental delays.
Leading Cause of Death: Worldwide, complications from premature birth are the leading cause of death among children under five years old, accounting for 900,000 deaths annually.
Gestational Age: In Australia, the average gestational age for preterm births is 33.3 weeks.
Prevention Strategies
Despite these challenges, studies emphasise the importance of preventive measures to mitigate risks of premature birth. These strategies include:
- Quality Antenatal Care: Early ultrasound scans, nutritional counselling, and timely management of maternal health risks like infections or pre-eclampsia are critical.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs during pregnancy, maintaining regular check-ups, and engaging in moderate exercise help reduce risks.
- Progesterone Therapy: Cervical length measurement and treatment with progesterone have shown effectiveness in reducing preterm birth incidence among women at risk.
The Role of Fundraising and Community Support
With the high cost of care for premature babies and limited support from government and authorities, fundraising becomes essential. This highlights the vital role of initiatives like Running for Premature Babies, who provide much-needed neonatal equipment to hospitals and undertake neonatal and perinatal research to give premature babies a better chance of survival and quality of life.
Disclaimer: This information by Running for Premature Babies Foundation is educational and informative in nature and is not medical advice or a healthcare recommendation. For further information, please Contact Us.
