Magnitude of prematurity in the countries of the Great Maghreb

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Health
• Public Health
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal mortality, contributing to 75% of deaths.
• It is also the second leading cause of mortality in children under five years of age globally.
• Understanding prematurity's scope in the Great Maghreb is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively assess the prevalence, risk factors, and complications of prematurity in the Great Maghreb region.
• To provide data-driven insights for targeted prevention and management strategies.
• To inform public health policies concerning maternal and infant care in the region.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted, searching Medline and Google Scholar for studies published between 2000 and 2018.
• Data focused on prematurity within the Greater Maghreb region.
• Prematurity was defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestational age.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of prematurity in the Maghreb region varied between 6.7% and 15.4%.
• Identified risk factors included infections, chronic maternal health conditions, advanced maternal age, and socioeconomic challenges.
• Mortality rates for premature infants ranged significantly from 28% to 45%, with common short-term complications like respiratory and metabolic disorders, and infections.

Conclusions:

• High rates of prematurity and associated mortality necessitate urgent implementation of prevention strategies.
• Developing robust pregnancy surveillance programs is essential.
• Addressing socioeconomic precariousness and enhancing neonatal care facilities are critical steps for reducing prematurity's impact.