Preterm birth

About 130 million babies are born every year in the world and 4 million of these die in the first four weeks of life, the neonatal period.

The main direct causes of neonatal death globally are preterm birth, severe infections and asphyxia.

In developed countries more than half of all neonatal deaths are born preterm.

1. Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) Perinatal Mortality 2009: United Kingdom. CMACE: London, 2011.