Preventing Prematurity: The Global Toll

While I focus a great deal on domestic issues in Maternal & Child Health, its impossible to raise awareness about prematurity prevention without thinking globally. Worldwide approximately 15 million babies are born premature each year, and more than 1 million die as a result. The sad part is that 75% of these deaths could be prevented with “feasible, cost-effective care” according to the March of Dimes.

Here’s a look at rates of preterm birth around the world in 2010:

Indonesia 15.46%

Haiti 14.09%

United States 12.03%

Democratic Republic of Congo 11.89%

United Kingdom 7.84%

Canada 7.78%

Mexico 7.34%

France 6.70%

Japan 5.90%