According to a report by a collective of health agencies, there are more than fifteen million babies born before the fortieth week of pregnancy worldwide. That number accounts for nearly one in every ten births in the world and means that the problem might be far worse than was previously believed. More than one million of those premature babies will die within days, others will die before reaching the age of five and still others may face long term disabilities. The highest numbers for premature births are centered in Africa and Asia, however, the industrialized nations had higher numbers than would have been guessed. In the United States, premature birth accounts for nearly one in every eight births or roughly half a million premature babies. That number is higher than in most of the European nations as well as Canada, Australia and Japan but even more troubling is higher than in some of the lesser developed countries around the world.

Dr , Joy Lawn, from the organization, Save the Children is a co-author of the report which used information from the March of Dimes, the World Health Organization and the Coalition of International Health Experts. According to Dr. Lawn, even though there are a high number of premature births in some countries like the US, there is also access to care that may allow more of them to be saved. A baby born at the same stage of development in Africa has a more than twelve times higher risk of dying than one born in the US.

Dr. Lawn also added in the report that nearly seventy five percent of those premature births could have more positive outcomes with simple and in most cases, inexpensive treatments. One of the most common treatments administered during preterm labor is a steroid shot which helps to speed up the maturation of the baby's lungs. That shot typically costs one dollar and is standard in most developed countries. If the shot were used in other countries, roughly 400,000 babies could be saved around the world.

Twelve percent of all US births are premature, defined as before the 39th week of pregnancy. That number is equal to the rate in Thailand, Turkey and Somalia. In contrast, the number for premature births in Japan and Sweden is only 5.9%.

Risk factors for premature labor and birth can include chronic health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, being under or over weight, being very young or older than forty and more. In many cases, there may be no explanation at all.