Nigeria's Preterm Birth Problem

Nigeria faces a devastating preterm birth crisis, a leading cause of its alarmingly high neonatal mortality. While many factors contribute to this issue, the sheer number of premature births is a stark and shocking reality. With a population exceeding 200 million, the scale of this problem is immense, demanding urgent attention.

The Staggering Numbers

Nigeria carries a substantial burden of preterm births globally. The numbers are not just statistics; they represent lives and futures hanging in the balance.

• Hundreds of Thousands Annually:
  

  • Approximately 871,000 babies are born too soon each year in Nigeria.

  • Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest number of preterm births worldwide. Some sources place it as having the third highest number of preterm births in the world.
    

• Devastating Impact on Mortality:

  • These premature births contribute significantly to Nigeria's high neonatal mortality rate.

  • Tragically, 98,300 children under five die each year in Nigeria due to direct complications from preterm birth.
    

Contributing Factors

Several factors contribute to this alarming rate of preterm births:

• Inadequate Antenatal Care:

  • Limited access to quality antenatal care prevents early detection and management of risk factors.

• Maternal Infections:

  • Infections such as malaria, urinary tract infections, and other untreated infections during pregnancy significantly increase the risk of preterm delivery.

• Socioeconomic Disparities:

  • Poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to education exacerbate the problem, particularly in rural areas.
    

A Call for Urgent Action

The sheer number of preterm births in Nigeria demands immediate and decisive action. We must prioritize:

• Strengthening Maternal Healthcare:

  • Expanding access to quality antenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric care.

• Investing in Neonatal Care:

  • Improving access to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and training healthcare professionals.

• Addressing Socioeconomic Factors:

  • Combating poverty, malnutrition, and improving access to education.

• Preventing Maternal Infections:

  • Implementing effective strategies to prevent and treat maternal infections.

Every number represents a life, and the time to act is now. By working together, we can reduce the devastating impact of preterm birth in Nigeria and give every newborn a chance at a healthy future.

Sources:

• Healthy Newborn Network: Nigeria Newborn Health.

  https://www.healthynewbornnetwork.org/country/nigeria/