15 million of world's babies born prematurely 

15 million of world's babies born prematurely 

This July 25, 2006 handout photo provided by the March of Dimes Foundation shows a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y. About 15 million premature babies are born every year _ more than 1 in 10 of the world’s births and a bigger problem than previously believed, according to the first country-by-country estimates of this obstetric epidemic. The startling toll: 1.1 million of these fragile newborns die as a result, and even those who survive can suffer lifelong disabilities. (AP Photo/Jennifer Coate, March of Dimes Foundation)

Jennifer Coate/March of Dimes Foundation/AP

Half a million babies are born too soon in the US - and at a rate far higher than in Europe or other similar countries.

A new report finds some 15 million premature babies are born every year - more than 1 in 10 of the world's births and a bigger problem than previously estimated.

The first country-by-country count of the problem shows most preemies are born in Africa and Asia. But it's a problem for the U.S., too, where half a million babies are born too soon - and at a rate far higher than in Europe or other similar countries.

The toll: some 1.1 million of the world's preemies die.

The report estimates that three-quarters of the deaths could be prevented by spreading some simple, inexpensive treatments to low-income countries - including teaching "kangaroo care," in which moms carry their tiny babies nestled skin-to-skin on their bare chests for warmth when there are no incubators.

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