Due to the war in Ukraine, the number of premature births is increasing

This is one of the many consequences of the war in Ukraine. The conflict has caused an increase in premature births in health centres, the global health agency Unitaid announced on Tuesday (August 9th). The Russian invasion in Ukraine “increases the stress level of pregnant women, which leads to an increase in the number of reported premature births”explained a spokesperson for the agency, Hervé Verhoosel, during a press conference in Geneva.

The war in #Ukraine has increased the number of premature births. Premature babies are more likely to suffer from complications that require oxygen for treatment. health agency @UNITAID has provided hundreds of life-saving devices to hospitals across Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/nGyHsZiyTb

— UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) August 9, 2022

“Babies born prematurely are more likely to develop respiratory, neurological or digestive complications – conditions that often require treatment with oxygen”he explained.

“In some hospitals that our partners have spoken with during training in the use of the equipment, there were increases of 12 to up to 40%”has explained Herve Verhoosel. “But we have to relativize slightly, he nuanced. For the moment, given the situation, many more traditional and uncomplicated births do not take place in hospitals, which receive more difficult cases. This contributes to the increase in percentages. But the increase is real.”.

A critical situation, which prompted the agency to send oxygen therapy devices on site to help babies. Unitaid sent 220 devices to administer oxygen and 125 oxygen blender systems (to regulate its concentration). They are now available in 25 centers across the country, 17 of which are perinatal centers.

It must be said that the bombardments damaged or destroyed many hospitals. “This puts thousands of newborns at high risk of disability or death due to a lack of access to oxygen, necessary equipment and essential treatments”said the spokesperson for Unitaid.