Pre-Term Births on the Rise

[xchrom]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=pre-term-births-rise

Premature birth is the biggest cause of infant mortality worldwide, yet most of those deaths could be readily prevented, according to a 2 May report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and child-health advocacy groups. The report summarizes the results of a comprehensive survey of the problem, and says that pre-term births are on the rise --a worrying trend -- but that low-income countries could reduce deaths among these infants by introducing a few affordable key health-care practices.

Premature babies, defined as those born before 37 weeks' gestation, have higher rates of death and serious illness in the days and weeks after birth than do babies born at term, and are also more likely to be left with life-long disabilities such as blindness and cerebral palsy. The report discusses estimates of the pre-term birth rates and associated infant mortality for most of the countries in the world; the data, which cover 184 countries, are presented in two papers under review at The Lancet.

This is the first detailed breakdown and comparison of premature birth rates country by country, compiled from records at national registries and health-care centers, and applying consistent definitions, says Elizabeth Mason, a public-health specialist at the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, who is a co-author of the report. The researchers hope that their three-year study will encourage countries to take steps to improve survival rates. "We use the evidence to derive policy and action. We don't believe in research for research's sake," Mason says.

The survey estimated that 15 million premature babies are born each year, of which more than 1 million will die. Pre-term births range from a low of 5-6% of live births in Japan and some European countries, including Latvia and Sweden, to more than 16% in many African countries, with a high of 18.1% in Malawi (see `Ahead of schedule'). Some high-income countries have surprisingly high rates, such as the United States with 12%. Time-trend data compiled for 65 countries, mostly with high incomes, show that rates are rising in most places, the report says, although the underlying causes differ.

[Warpy]

1. You fail to take care of women and you get sick and dying babies, what a shocker

The US has high rates because of our insane way of paying for health care, including erasing care for women between their waists and knees unless they're part of a "family policy" for triple the premiums.

The fact that we're so close to countries that have little to no health care available for anyone should be a source of shame. Republican Evangelicals consider that a source of pride, punishing sluts for having sex by making them and their children sick.

We have got to end this insane system somehow. It is not only cruel and shameful, it's killing us.