U.S. Lags in Global Measure of Premature Births
United States of America
jparadis
Fifteen million babies are born prematurely each year, and the United States fared badly in the first country-by-country global comparison of premature births, which was released Wednesday by the World Health Organization and other agencies.
Preterm and low birth-weight infants ‘sign of future stillbirth risk’
HNN Team
Having a preterm infant or delivering a baby that is small for gestational age (SGA) raises the risk a woman will experience a stillbirth, new maternal and newborn research has shown.
USA: HHS launches Strong Start initiative to increase healthy deliveries and reduce preterm births
To help reduce the increasing number of preterm births in America and ensure more babies are born healthy, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced more than $40 million in grants to test ways to reverse that trend, as well as a public campaign to reduce early elective deliveries.
India: State has no data on premature births
India
jparadis
The birth registers maintained by the state health department do not record the number of preterm babies born every year but groups them along with babies with low birth weigh
Quest to End Premature Births Worldwide Takes Momentous Step Forward
Gates Foundation grants $20 Million to GAPPS at Seattle Children’s to engage researchers from around the world in groundbreaking research.
Study shows newborn deaths higher in US than in Malaysia and Poland
A study shows from1990 to 2009, annual newborn deaths decreased from 4.6 million to 3.3 million but progress is too slow, particularly in Africa.
Higher Mortality for Infants
The absolute incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in late pre-term infants (i.e., born before the end of 37 weeks) is low, but it’s still significantly higher than in full-term infants, say the authors of the review.
Educate Mothers on Newborn Health Care
Ghana
Michael McCusker
Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu-Mills has urged midwives, community health nurses and other health professionals to educate pregnant and nursing mothers on the provisions of quality newborn healthcare for their babies.
Top 30 medicines to save mothers and children
WHO’s first ever list of priority medicines for maternal and child health recommends to countries which medicines are most important for saving lives.
AlertNet’s top 20 big ideas that don’t cost the earth
Read the top 20 innovations that could improve the lives of millions of people around the world. Find out which maternal and newborn interventions made the list!