World Prematurity Day is celebrated every year on November 17. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for greater attention to the issue of preterm birth, increased research and effective action to reduce the health problems and deaths caused by preterm birth. It is estimated that 15 million babies born each year are born prematurely without completing 37 weeks of gestation, and that 1 million of these babies die from complications of prematurity. Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death and is the second leading cause of death in children under five years of age after pneumonia. Studies show that many premature babies, even if they are lucky enough to survive, will face lifelong disabilities, including learning disabilities and vision and hearing problems. While more than 60 percent of preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia, prematurity is a truly global problem, with the highest number of preterm births occurring in countries including Brazil, India, China, Nigeria and the United States, according to the World Health Organization. Of the 11 countries with preterm birth rates above 15 percent, all but two are in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization says there are many simple and easy ways to effectively address preterm birth. Even without neonatal intensive care, more than three-quarters of preterm babies can be saved with cost-effective care, including prenatal steroid injections to strengthen the baby’s lungs; direct skin-to-skin contact with the mother and frequent breastfeeding “kangaroo care”; infant resuscitation measures; and the use of antibiotics to prevent and treat neonatal infections. According to the World Health Organization, common causes of preterm birth include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension; genetic factors can also have an impact. According to statistics, India has the highest number of preterm births at 3.51 million; China at 1.17 million; and the United States at 510,000. The country with the highest percentage of preterm births is Malawi, with 18 preterm births out of 100 live births. Significance and Impact There are 15 million cases of premature births each year. Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death, with approximately 1 million infant deaths per year due to complications from preterm birth. Many of the children who survive also face lifelong disabilities. Three-quarters of preterm deaths could be saved with available, cost-effective care. World Prematurity Day was established to bring attention to the global challenge posed by preterm birth.