Preterm birth is the single major cause of death in children up to 5 years of age in the developed world and the leading single cause of global perinatal mortality and morbidity.
Infants born preterm are over 40 times more likely to die during the neonatal period than are term infants.
A significant proportion of preterm-born children experience short and long-term complications including respiratory impairment, feeding disorders, neurological disabilities, vision disorders, hearing impairment, developmental delay and cerebral palsy.