New WHO recommendations for the care of preterm or low birthweight infants have the potential to transform maternal and newborn health-care delivery

Abstract

The incidence of preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) worldwide was 15·2 million in 2019, occurring in 11% of livebirths.1,2 In 2015, an estimated 20·5 million livebirths globally were low birthweight (LBW; weight <2500g at birth).3 The survival, health, growth, and neurodevelopment of preterm and LBW infants lags behind that of full-term infants and special care is needed for these vulnerable infants.4,5 Preterm and LBW infants are susceptible to impaired respiration, difficulty feeding, growth failure, poor body temperature regulation, and infection.