Premature Infants Face Heightened Risks: Experts Urge Vigilance on World Prematurity Day

As the world observes World Prematurity Day on November 17, 2025, healthcare experts are sounding the alarm on the heightened risks faced by premature infants. According to Prof Anju Agarwal, head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Queen Mary's Hospital, premature babies are more likely to experience issues with breathing, maintaining body temperature, and feeding.

To address these challenges, Prof Agarwal emphasizes the importance of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), which involves skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the preterm infant. She recommends that KMC be provided for a minimum of 8 hours per day until the baby's weight reaches 2.5kg, as this has been shown to improve the survival of such infants.

Dr Malvika Mishra of the Ram Prakash Gupta Mother and Child State Referral Hospital further highlights that preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, affects about 10% of all newborns globally and is the leading cause of infant death and morbidity. Prematurity increases the likelihood of respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral palsy, and developmental abnormalities, as well as the risk of acquiring chronic diseases later in life.

To ensure the well-being of premature infants, healthcare professionals stress the need for mothers to frequently wash their hands with soap and water and to limit visitors who may come into contact with the baby. The hospital has also developed a maternal sick newborn care unit, where mothers and even sick babies are kept together, as this approach has been shown to improve survival rates.