Only half of the women who give preterm birth in hospitals receive steroid injections which prevent death and disability of vulnerable preterm newborns, a new WHO study has revealed.
The World Health Organisation published the report on their website yesterday. The study, conducted across 29 countries, mostly comprising of low- and middle-income families, was also published in The Lancet medical journal.
It is the largest study to look at the use of the life-saving steroid injections which do not require refrigeration and cost less than $1 for an injection.
It is known to be the most effective intervention to reduce the risk of respiratory distress syndrome among preterm babies born in hospitals where access to further newborn care is available. This is the standard-of-care for women in preterm labour between 26 and 34 weeks’ gestation (a full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks).
“More than three-quarters of preterm babies born in hospitals could be saved with cost-effective interventions like corticosteroids to the pregnant woman before she gives birth. This is particularly important in Africa and Asia where more than 60% of preterm deliveries occur," said Dr Marleen Temmerman, director of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research and co-author of the study.
