KARACHI: Pakistan has the fourth highest number of preterm births in a year-748,100, to be precise-according to Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth.
The worldwide report was prepared by a group of 45 multidisciplinary experts from 26 international organisations, including the Aga Khan University. Preterm births account for more than one in 10 live births in the world, and 60 per cent of them take place in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Nearly 15 million babies are born every year before the expected time of 39 weeks. More than one million of them die shortly after birth, while others suffer from various forms of physical or neurological disability.
Pakistan also ranks eighth among the top 10 countries with the highest preterm birth rate, with 15.8 preterm births for every 100 live births.
via Global study: ‘Simple measures will reduce preterm deaths’ – The Express Tribune.
Ismailimail 