Abstract:
Worldwide, 15 million babies are born prematurely each year. Prematurity
has become the leading cause of newborn deaths worldwide, resulting in more than 1
million deaths each year .Preterm birth rates around the globe are increasing and are
now responsible for 35% of the world’s neonatal deaths; the condition is the secondleading
cause of death among children under five. Ethiopia is among the top 15
countries that contribute to two-thirds of the world’s preterm babies with an estimated
preterm birth rate of 14.1%. In Ethiopia, of the estimated 91,700 neonatal deaths in
2010, more than one-third were estimated to be due to complications of preterm birth.