21 Nov 2019

Paediatrician at Francistown’s Dati Paediatric Clinic, Dr Loeto Mazhani says premature births were a leading cause of death among under five children.

Giving a key note address during this year’s Word Prematurity Day Commemoration themed; Born Too Soon; Providing the Right Care, at the Tight Time in the Right Place on Tuesday, Dr Mazhani said the number of premature births was estimated at 15 million every year.

He said more than 10 per cent of all deliveries and more than 60 per cent of the pre-term deliveries occur in Africa and South Asia.

“Many of these babies require weeks and months in the hospital after birth, which is a very stressful experience for both the mother and the child,” he said.

He cited that those who survived death due to prematurity remained at risk of many lifelong complications, including cerebral palsy and other neurological problems, vision problems, cardiac problems, behavioural and psychological problems including dental problems.

Dr Mazhani said a quarter of the deaths that were due to prematurity could be prevented with current cost effective interventions as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).

These interventions, he said, include skilled care during and after delivery for both the mother and baby, Midwife care, warmth, Kangaroo Care, breastfeeding support, basic care for infections, provision of steroid treatment to mothers at risk of giving birth prematurely, breathing support, especially continuous positive airways pressure and high flow oxygen.

Dr Mazhani advised that prevention of death and complications from premature delivery begins with a healthy pregnancy, which can be promoted by a healthy diet, refraining from use of tobacco, alcohol and other addictive substances and ultra-sound scans for detection of multiple pregnancy, a minimum of 8 weeks visits to a health professional for early detection and management of risk factors  including empowerment of women.

He however said that most premature births occurred  spontaneously for reasons such as multiple pregnancies, infections, chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, early induction or non-medical reasons.

For her part, Dr Naomi Onyango said that World Premature Day was an opportunity to call attention to the burden of death, disability, pain and suffering caused by premature births.

She said in some countries, such events had also involved parliamentary hearings.

Midwife, Ms Sefelani Mbuso said some of the factors bedevilling pregnancy were abnormal or decreased function of the placenta. 

She said that factors involving the fetus may include multiple gestation or congenital abnormalities.

Ms Ntalecha Rawstorne, who gave birth prematurely, encouraged mothers with premature children not to despair despite that they were facing challenges.

She encouraged mothers to stay positive, hopeful and believe in the tiny miracle that God had given them. Ends