Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
04:18
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
Published on: October 10, 2025
15 Million preterm births annually: what has changed this year?
Mary V Kinney1, Joy E Lawn, Christopher P Howson
1Saving Newborn Lives/Save the Children, Cape Town, South Africa.
Reproductive Health
|November 15, 2012
Summary
Globally, over 15 million babies are born preterm each year. Increased awareness and improved care can save lives, but urgent research is needed for accelerated prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neonatal Medicine
- Global Health Initiatives
Background:
- Premature birth affects over 10% of global births annually, totaling 15 million infants.
- World Prematurity Day (November 17) aims to elevate global awareness of this critical issue.
- Recent advancements include new data, evidence, global collaborations, and national leadership.
Discussion:
- Improved care for preterm infants can significantly reduce mortality and disability.
- Addressing prematurity requires a multi-faceted approach involving healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers.
- The scale of the problem necessitates coordinated global action and resource allocation.
Key Insights:
- Enhanced global awareness and data sharing are crucial for tackling prematurity.
- Effective interventions in neonatal care are vital for saving vulnerable infants.
- Collaborative efforts are demonstrating progress in addressing preterm birth rates.
Outlook:
- Continued research breakthroughs are essential for accelerating prevention strategies.
- Sustained global partnerships and country-level champions are key to long-term success.
- The ultimate goal is to reduce the incidence of preterm birth and improve outcomes for affected neonates.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
The issues and trends in healthcare delivery are constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is one recent issue that wreaked havoc on healthcare systems, causing a shortage of healthcare workers, high demand for medicines and supplies, and increased medical expenditure due to a lack of insurance. Other issues include rising healthcare costs and care fragmentation.
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...