According to the World Health Organisations (WHO) facts sheet fifteen million(15,000,000) babies are born as pre-term babies.Of these one million (1,000,000) die every year with many survivors suffering various degrees of disabilities.
Globally,premature birth is the laeding cause of death of children below 5 years.
More than 60% of pre-term births occur in Africa and Asia with the poor families at higher risk.
According to top 10 countries with the highest precedence of still birth in descending order,India leads with 3,519,100, China-1,172,300, Nigeria-773,600, Pakistan-748,100, Indonesia-675,700, USA-517,400,Bangladesh-444,100, Philpines, DR Congo-341,400, Brazil-279,300.
Speaking in an interview with Sir Richmond Antwi Boasiako on Royal yeresuadee morning show, the administrator of the Medical College of Medical science KNUST,Dr Kwaku Duah noted that ‘‘pre-term birth is only limited to the women but the men too may be suffering from various infections which can lead to such an incident.He further asked for the intervention of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority in the sale of herbal medicines in the country.
According to him most women become addicted to self medication during pregnancy with the application of herbal medicines which inturn cause pre-term births.
Dr Duah explained that pre-term birth does not have any spiritual connotation.
He advised that couples must always visit the health facilities for regular checkups.
