Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Ten Percent of Births Worldwide are Premature

According to a new article released by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 130 million births that occur each year in the world, one in ten is premature, meaning the baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation. Not surprisingly, the greater part of these premature births occur in less fortunate nations, with roughly 40 million premature births taking place in Africa and 70 million taking place in Asia annually.


Researchers and specialists from WHO also found that the number of premature births in wealthier regions, including North American and Europe, has also risen significantly in the past two decades. Of the total number of births in Africa in a single year, 12 percent were pre-term, while about 10.6 percent of births in North America were pre-term. Only about 6.2 percent of all births in Latin America in a single year were premature.


The article was based on data from around the world from the mid-1990s to 2007. In the United States, statistics show that as many as 50 percent of babies born at only 22 to 25 weeks of gestation may survive due to the quality of medical care available. However, in poorer regions that do not have infection-treating drugs, fewer babies born before 37 weeks of gestation survive.


The risk of birth defects, injuries and complications increases with a premature birth. However, some birth injuries are preventable. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been caused by a doctor or other medical professional, please call or e-mail us today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have handled Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases for our clients. Call us today for your free consultation.


1-877-ASK4SAM www.ask4sam.net



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