World Prematurity Day

World Prematurity Day is observed on 17 November each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide.[1] Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm each year, accounting for about one in 10 of all babies born worldwide.[2] Premature birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five worldwide.[3] Urgent action is always requested to address preterm birth given that the first country-level estimates show that globally 15 million babies are born too soon and rates are increasing in most countries with reliable time trend data. Preterm birth is critical for progress on Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG) for child survival by 2015 and beyond, and gives added value to maternal health (MDG 5) investments also linking to non-communicable diseases. For preterm babies who survive, the additional burden of prematurity-related disability may affect families and health systems.[4]

World Prematurity Day
Lights in Southend-on-Sea in recognition of World Prematurity Day
Official nameWorld Prematurity Day
Also calledWPD
Observed byworldwide
DateNovember 17
Next time17 November 2021 (2021-11-17)
Frequencyannual
First time2011

November is Prematurity Awareness Month.[5]

History

The first international awareness day for preterm birth on 17 November was created by European parent organizations in 2008. It has been celebrated as World Prematurity Day since 2011.[6] It has since evolved into a worldwide annual observance.[7]

Parent groups, families, health professionals, politicians, hospitals, organisations and other stakeholders involved in preterm birth observe this day with media campaigns, local events and other activities conducted on local, regional, national or international level to raise awareness among the public. In 2013, WPD was celebrated in over 60 countries.[8]

Purple is the official color for World Prematurity Day. Observers of World Prematurity Day may wear your purple ribbon pin or use a purple lightbulb.[9]

People observing World Prematurity Day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram use the hashtags: #PrematurityAwarenessMonth and #WorldPrematurityDay on their posts.[10]

References
  1. "World Prematurity Day". WHO/PMNCH. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  2. Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth. World Health Organization.
  3. "WHO | World Prematurity Day". WHO. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  4. https://preview-reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-4755-10-S1-S1
  5. "Prematurity Awareness Month". www.cochrane.org. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  6. "World Prematurity Day". EFCNI. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  7. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/world/prematurityday
  8. "World Prematurity Day". EFCNI. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  9. "WORLD PREMATURITY DAY - November 17, 2020". National Today. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  10. "World Prematurity Day". www.marchofdimes.org. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
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