Since the intelligent lockdown in March, the number of babies born prematurely has decreased significantly. Erasmus MC reports this after a major study with data of more than 1.5 million births. The number of preterm births fell by 15 to 23 percent after March 9.
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The conclusions of the investigation are published on Wednesday The Lancet Public Health. A leading medical research journal.
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The conclusions are about babies who were born two to eight weeks prematurely. Erasmus MC researchers saw a decrease in that group after the week of 9 March. Then the cabinet announced that people had to stop shaking hands. Prime Minister Rutte also recommended washing hands more often and better, and sneezing in the elbow became the motto.
The decrease may be related to the announcement of the cabinet. “Better hand hygiene and no more shaking hands mean that less bacteria and viruses are exchanged, so that pregnant women were also less exposed to pathogens,” says Irwin Reiss of Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital.
Prevent premature birth
The scientists examined data from more than 1.5 million babies born between October 2010 and July 2020. Reiss is happy with the confirmation that outside influences seem to play a role in premature births. “If we gain insight into causes, we may be able to do more to prevent premature birth.”
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