Reducing the Burden of Prematurity – The Obstetric Perspective

Introduction: ‘Preterm or Premature Birth’ is defined as birth occurring before completion of 37 weeks or 259 days since the first day of the last menstrual period of the mother. Every year, an estimated 15 million babies (more than one in ten births) are born preterm worldwide, and this number is rising. In Sri Lanka, approximately 24,500 babies are born prematurely each year. Efforts by obstetricians and neonatologists have led to significant advances in reducing preterm birth and improving outcomes.