A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is preterm, and it happens more often than you think. WHO estimates 13.4 million babies were born too early worldwide in 2020, about 1 in 10, and sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest rates.
Prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under five. Yet WHO says three in four of those deaths could be prevented with simple, low-cost care.
One of the simplest is kangaroo mother care: holding a small baby skin to skin on a parent’s chest, starting right after birth. It keeps the baby warm and close.
Go to hospital quickly if you have regular contractions, leaking fluid or bleeding before 37 weeks. A small baby who struggles to breathe or feed needs a special care baby unit.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
The Health Factor Africa
Stay on top of the claims
One email a week: explainers, myth-checks, and the stories behind the headlines.
