Supporting the survival of premature babies

Premature birth Complications are the leading cause of death worldwide for children under the age of five. Of the 15 million babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy each year, about 1 million die.But new the study It has been implemented in secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan and is expected to improve survival.

These countries have some of the world Maximum number of preterm births.. However, a randomized clinical trial known as prenatal corticosteroids to improve the outcome of preterm infants (Who acts-I) — It has been demonstrated that administration of the steroid dexamethasone to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in a low resource environment can increase the survival potential of the baby without increasing the incidence of bacterial infections in the mother. For every 25 pregnant women treated with steroids, one premature baby was saved.

As a young doctor trained at a teaching hospital in Nigeria, I transfused premature babies with jaundice. This is a tedious process that can lead to infections in newborns. The potential to save mothers and their babies from these life-threatening procedures is one of the reasons WHOACTION-I considers trying lifesaver.

But as important as the results of the study, this treatment for risky mothers cannot save all premature babies.There are at least four other ways to deal with some Risk factor Increases the survival rate of the child due to premature birth.

First, all pregnant women must attend antenatal classes offered by skilled healthcare professionals. These classes provide women and their partners with the right information for a safe pregnancy and are an excellent platform for screening for risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Pregnant women can also have an ultrasound to check for multiple pregnancies and cervical weakness. If either is found, the pregnancy is designated as “high risk” and is usually conservatively managed by an obstetrician.

In Nigeria Two-thirds of pregnant women I have already attended some form of antenatal clinic. Covid-19 limits the frequency of prenatal clinic visits, but may also be offered online or through community engagement by healthcare professionals to prevent pregnant women from having to travel long distances. .. One of Nigeria’s leading midwives, Tolu AdelekeIs a pioneer in online birth preparation classes for pregnant women and their partners.

Second, all women are required to give birth to a medical facility under the supervision of a skilled health care worker. In many parts of the world this is not the case.Studies show that 59% of births Nigeria Made at home, 35 percent of births Bangladesh Processed by traditional midwives, 53% of births Kenya It takes place outside the medical facility. Childbirth in a medical facility increases the survival rate of newborns, especially for women at risk of preterm birth. Policy makers need to have community health workers in place to provide information on the risks of home delivery and to accompany pregnant women to these facilities.

Such strategies may not be able to address all the reasons some women give birth at home (such as difficulty in accessing medical facilities), but they can help overcome a simple lack of knowledge about the benefits. I will. In 2016, EpiAFRIC SURE-P Maternal and Child Health Project, One of Nigeria’s top national maternal health interventions. The main finding was that 32.1 percent more pregnant women gave birth in medical facilities after the introduction of the project. This increase has also increased the number of newborns vaccinated against polio, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

Third, newborn services that increase the survival of premature babies need to be improved.One example is Kangaroo mother careHelps keep the newborn warm. Premature babies can suffer from hypothermia, and this type of care means that they are carried (usually by the mother) and the skin-to-skin contact provides warmth. In situations where the mother is incompetent, her partner can intervene. Another intervention that can increase the survival rate of newborns is access to alternative sources of milk. It is more difficult to start breastfeeding immediately after giving birth to a premature baby, and breastfeeding banks can provide screened and pasteurized supplies. Study in Ethiopia Indicates that mothers are more likely to accept donated milk if they have sufficient information.

Finally, all girls need to be enrolled in school.When Mother is educatedShe is more likely to go to a prenatal clinic, give birth at a medical facility, and practice other healthy behaviors.But over 130 million girls around the world are out of school, And the blockade of Covid-19 To increase This number. The link between education and healthy behavior emphasizes the impact of external social conditions on health outcomes. Health planners, program managers, governments, the private sector, and donors should keep these conditions in mind when planning interventions.

The· Who acts-I Testing is an important step in increasing the survival rate of premature babies. However, addressing other risk factors is also necessary to ensure that all mothers, including those in resource-poor environments, bring their healthy newborns home.

-Project Syndicate