WORLD PREMATURITY DAY 2024

“Small actions, BIG IMPACT: Immediate skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere.”

In conjunction with World Prematurity Day, celebrated on November 17 every year, it is essential to raise awareness about the challenges faced by premature babies and their families. This celebration not only aims to honour the strength and resilience of families caring for premature babies, but also to provide them with hope, and support they need.

A premature baby is one born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature baby can be further classified into categories: extremely premature (born before 28 weeks), very premature (born between 28 and 32 weeks), and moderate to late premature (born between 32 and 37 weeks). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every 10 babies worldwide is born prematurely, resulting in an estimated 15 million premature births each year. These babies are born with immature organs and face numerous health risks, including difficulty regulating body temperature, respiratory problems that may require ventilation support, and a weakened immune system making them highly susceptible to serious infections, contributing to a higher mortality rate compared to full-term babies. In addition to these immediate challenges, premature babies are at an increased risk for long-term complications such as brain damage, learning disabilities, and vision or hearing impairments. However, with early intervention and specialized care, many of these risks can be mitigated, offering hope for the future of premature babies. Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) play a critical role in managing these risks by providing specialized care and monitoring to support the baby’s immediate and long-term needs. Through advances in neonatal medicine, the survival rate of premature babies has significantly improved, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions in these settings.

This year’s World Prematurity Day theme is “Small actions, BIG IMPACT: Immediate skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere.” The theme highlights the profound impact of simple, yet powerful actions that can significantly improve the health of premature babies. Skin-to-skin care, also known as “kangaroo care,” involves placing the baby directly on the parent’s chest. This practice not only helps the baby to stay warm but also stabilizes their breathing and heart rate, reduces stress, and promotes a sense of calm. Additionally, it strengthens the baby’s immune system enhancing their ability to fight infections. Studies have shown that babies who receive skin-to-skin care gain weight faster, are discharged from the hospital earlier, and develop stronger emotional bonds with their parents. Moreover, skin-to-skin care supports breastfeeding and enhances parental bonding, further improving the baby’s physical well-being.

Skin-to-skin care requires no special equipment or advanced technology making it a natural and accessible practice that can be implemented in nearly every hospital around the world. On this World Prematurity Day, we are reminded that often, the simplest actions have the greatest impact. By supporting this small yet powerful intervention, we can help make a BIG IMPACT on the health and future of premature babies worldwide. Let us come together to support families, share knowledge, and take action to improve the quality of life for premature babies everywhere.

Dr. Zurina Zainudin

Consultant Pediatrician & Neonatologist / Senior Lecturer

Department of Paediatrics

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia

email: zaizurina@upm.edu.my

Date of Input: 17/11/2024 | Updated: 17/11/2024 | nadia_rahman