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By Muinat Usman
Medical experts have called for urgent reforms to reduce preventable preterm births in Nigeria, warning that the condition remains a major contributor to maternal, fetal and neonatal deaths despite advances in obstetric care.
The call was made by the Association of Fetomaternal Medicine Specialists of Nigeria (AFEMSON), which said avoidable preterm deliveries continue to impose a significant burden on families and the nation’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the opening of the association’s 9th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held virtually from Ilorin, Kwara State, AFEMSON President, Professor Jamilu Tukur, said preventing preterm births should become a national health priority through evidence-based clinical practice, stronger health policies and improved healthcare delivery.
The conference, themed “Reducing Iatrogenic and Preventable Preterm Births in Nigeria,” brought together clinicians, researchers and policymakers to identify practical solutions to one of the country’s most pressing maternal and newborn health challenges.
Professor Tukur described preterm birth as a leading cause of perinatal illness and death, noting that AFEMSON remains committed to reducing maternal and perinatal mortality through quality clinical care, research, specialist training and policy advocacy.
He expressed optimism that recommendations from the conference would strengthen advocacy for improved clinical guidelines, enhanced specialist training and greater support for pregnant women and newborns across the country.
Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Hadijat Raji, said reducing preterm births requires coordinated action beyond specialist care.
She stressed the need for effective policy implementation, multidisciplinary collaboration and stronger engagement with families and communities to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Professor Raji said deliberations focused on adapting global best practices to Nigeria’s healthcare system, standardising clinical protocols, strengthening birth preparedness and promoting evidence-based interventions to improve maternal and newborn survival.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, AFEMSON unveiled a new Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Preterm Birth in Nigeria.
The association urged the Federal and State Ministries of Health, teaching hospitals and professional bodies to adopt and implement the guideline nationwide.
AFEMSON also called on governments to increase funding for fetomaternal services, integrate specialist maternal care into primary and secondary healthcare facilities, invest in electronic medical records and artificial intelligence applications to improve healthcare data management, and strengthen specialist training.
The association recommended that hospitals routinely audit medically induced (iatrogenic) preterm deliveries and expand access to Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for obstetricians, gynaecologists, sonographers and midwives to improve the quality and safety of maternal healthcare.
The recommendations come amid persistent concerns over Nigeria’s high maternal and newborn mortality rates, with experts maintaining that preventing avoidable preterm births could significantly improve survival outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
