World Prematurity Day(WPD)
Prematurity is the broad category of newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation(GA). Prematurity Awareness Month is observed every November, with World Prematurity Day on 17 November, to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide. The day was initiated by European foundation for the care of newborn infantss (EFCNI) and partnering European parent organisations in 2008.
Countless individuals and organisations like World Health Organisation(WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), from more than 100 countries join forces with activities, special events and commit to action to help address preterm birth and improve the situation of preterm babies and their families.
Each year WPD has a global theme to address awareness.The global theme for World Prematurity Day 2024 is:
Access to quality care everywhere!
WPD official webpage:https://www.efcni.org/activities/campaigns/wpd/
This theme draws attention to the global scale of preterm birth and the critical need foruniversal access to high-quality healthcare.This slogan also serves as a call to action forimproving maternal healthcare, emphasising that both mothers and babies must receive timely, appropriate support and medical attention.
Why preterm birth is a globally addressed topics?
① The preterm birth rate is increasing, depite the development of technologies.
- Globally according to Lancet global health, it is estimated in total 8.5% increase in preterm birth rate from 2000 to 2014₍₁₎, and an increase of 1.3% per year from 2012 to 2018.₍₂₎
- In United States, The preterm birth rate rose 0.4% in 2021, from 10.1% in 2020 to 10.₍₃₎
- In China, a meta-analysis showed an increase in preterm rate by 1·1% per year from 1990 to 2016.₍₂₎
② Preterm birth is the leading cause of death , but 75% of these deathcould be prevented.
- Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age, responsible for approximately 900 000 deaths in 2019.₍₄₎
- Three-quarters of these deaths could be prevented with current, cost-effective interventions.₍₅₎
(1)Preterm birth rates from Chawanpaiboon et al 2018 Lancet Global Health
(2)The rising preterm birth rate in China: a cause for concern. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Sep;9(9):e1179-e1180. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00337-5. PMID: 34416201.
(3)CDC report https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm#print
(4)Perin J, Mulick A, Yeung D, et al. Global, regional, and national causes of under-5 mortality in 2000-19: an updated systematic analysis with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2022; 6(2): 106-15.
(5)WHO fact-sheets of preterm birth. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
Premature birth and resuscitation
- Preterm babies have higher risk of having apnea or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) which may lead to initial resuscitation after birth.₍₆₎
- During and after receiving resuscitation, additional problems associated with preterm birth may occur compared to term babies, so extra attention and interventions are required.₍₇₎
(6)Approach to infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation: relationship to outcomes of more-mature infants. Pediatrics. 2012 Jun;129(6):e1508-16.
(7)Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation 8th Edition. Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).2021
Professional society awareness: The importance of resuscitation simulation training for quality improvement
Most countries conduct tiered, annual resuscitation simulation training and competitions to ensure readiness and competence. In this insightful interview, Dr. Juan Pablo Berazategui, a leading pediatrician and neonatologist, highlights the critical role of neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in continuous medical education. Advanced simulation techniques and industry collaboration help healthcare professionals improve their actions by replicating real-life scenarios as closely as possible.
COMEN Neo also prepare a series of training videos about neonatal resuscitation and how to use BQ80 throughout the whole process. Please follow us and we will update videos on this page soon.
Universal access to high-quality prematurity care
In the past two years, over 1,200 BQ80 units have been shipped and installed in more than 340 countries and regions, supporting neonatal resuscitation and care worldwide.
The neonatal market often lacks focus in medical innovation and service, mainly because infants cannot express their needs like adults. Inspired by our founder's personal experience with a child in the NICU, COMEN is dedicated to raising the standard of neonatal care from the very beginning. Our design philosophy, “From parental love, to boundless compassion,” drives us to create high-quality environments and treatments for the growth of newborns. This philosophy is the foundation for developing the BQ80, our first neonatal radiant warmer and resuscitation platform.
With 1105 partners in nearly 190 countries, Comen is committed to delivering top-notch services to hospitals worldwide. If you want to learn more about our solutions or get a copy of the materials from this website, contact us, and we will respond as soon as possible.
COMEN NEO magazine including clinical insights and case study of our products
COMEN delivered 249 units of BQ80 for World Health Organization (WHO)
Born in China: A medical documentary about neonatology quality improvement in China
