Extremely Preterm Babies. Improving Perinatal Care

Currently, 75% of deaths in hospitalized children occur in preterm babies and 80% of children hospitalized in neonatal units are preterm. In Europe and most developing countries, the rate of preterm births ranges from 5% to 9%, and in the United States it has even reached 12% (2010). Most of these babies, who survive, will have special health, social and educational needs throughout childhood; and into adulthood as well.

The debates aim to better understand the factors that contribute to preterm births, to identify new lines of research for the future, and to establish prevention and management strategies to improve the quality of life of these infants, and reduce the resulting economic and social impact.

With a multidisciplinary focus, the debate sessions, coorganized by B·Debate and Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, will feature professionals like cell and molecular biologists, bioinformatics, specialists in systems biology, geneticists and experts in the economy of health and various clinical specializations (neonatal specialists, gynecologists, obstetricians, neurobiologists and neurologists).