Overview
- In Argentina, official 2023 data show 9.5% of births were preterm—about 44,000 babies—including roughly 4,000 under 32 weeks, with 3,689 infant deaths and an infant mortality rate of 8 per 1,000; 40% of deaths involved babies under 1,000 grams.
- Globally, the WHO estimates about 15 million premature births each year and around 1 million deaths linked to complications from early birth.
- The Week of Prematurity runs through Nov. 22 with calls for integrated care networks, guaranteed post‑discharge follow‑up, and active family participation in care decisions.
- Clinicians emphasize risk stratification—late (32–36 weeks), moderate (29–32), and extreme (<29 weeks or <1,500 g)—and note that early detection and appropriate care can prevent most fatalities; key risks include very young or older maternal age, prior preterm birth, multiples, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia.
- El Tribuno reports, without a cited source, that about 20 babies per day in Argentina are born under 1,500 grams with roughly half surviving, while advocates highlight a rights framework established in 2010 to ensure suitable care, breastfeeding support, and specialized follow‑up.