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Preterm babies are prone to serious illness or death during the neonatal period. Without appropriate treatment, those who survive often face lifelong disability and poor quality of life. Complications of prematurity are the single largest cause of neonatal death and currently the leading cause of death among children under 5 years. Global efforts to further reduce child mortality therefore require urgent actions to address preterm birth. This document presents the highlights, key messages and recommended maternal interventions from the 2015 WHO guideline on improving preterm birth outcomes.