Morocco Faces High Premature Birth Rate: 13.4% of Newborns Affected Annually

On December 4th in Rabat, during the World Prematurity Day, the Minister of Health called for mobilization to give more chances to premature children. Despite the notable progress made in the health sector of the mother and child, the WHO estimates that the rate of premature births each year in Morocco is estimated at 13.41% of births, or about 91,400.

A child is considered premature if it is born before 8 and a half months of pregnancy. Premature babies, especially very premature babies, can have complications and sequelae in adulthood. These are neurosensory disorders, disabilities and learning difficulties that can appear from early childhood to adulthood. This, according to the Ministry of Health, requires a specific intervention strategy to develop appropriate approaches.

The Ministry of Health believes that the 2025 Health Plan offers the opportunity to develop a specific plan for prematurity. This is as part of the implementation of the activities of the regional action plans for the elimination of avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths developed by each region for the period 2019-2021.

Globally, the WHO reveals that 15 million premature babies are born each year. More than a million die annually and 80% of deaths occur in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.