One in 10 babies are born premature each year: Study

This July 25, 2006, handout photo provided by the March of Dimes Foundation shows a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Albany Medical Centre. Fifteen million babies, or one in 10 around the world are born premature every year, and 1.1 million of those infants die, according to a United Nations (UN)-sponsored report released on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Fifteen million babies, or one in 10 around the world are born premature every year, and 1.1 million of those infants die, according to a United Nations (UN)-sponsored report released on Wednesday.

Premature birth is the leading cause of death for newborn infants and is on the rise globally, said the report led by the March of Dimes, The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, Save the Children and the World Health Organisation.

The study defined preterm birth as occurring before 37 weeks of pregnancy are complete. Typical pregnancies last 38 to 40 weeks.

Southern Asia leads the world with the highest preterm birth rate, with 13.3 per cent of babies born early, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa at 12.3 per cent, it said. Together, Africa and South Asia account for 60 per cent of all preterm births.