Global, regional and national levels and trends of preterm birth rates for 1990 to 2014: protocol for development of World Health Organization estimates.
BACKGROUND
The official WHO estimates of preterm birth are an essential global resource for assessing the burden of preterm birth and developing public health programmes and policies. This protocol describes the methods that will be used to identify, critically appraise and analyse all eligible preterm birth data, in order to develop global, regional and national level estimates of levels and trends in preterm birth rates for the period 1990 - 2014.


METHODS
We will conduct a systematic review of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) data on preterm birth for all WHO Member States, via national Ministries of Health and Statistics Offices. For Member States with absent, limited or lower-quality CRVS data, a systematic review of surveys and/or research studies will be conducted. Modelling will be used to develop country, regional and global rates for 2014, with time trends for Member States where sufficient data are available. Member States will be invited to review the methodology and provide additional eligible data via a country consultation before final estimates are developed and disseminated.


CONCLUSIONS
This research will be used to generate estimates on the burden of preterm birth globally for 1990 to 2014. We invite feedback on the methodology described, and call on the public health community to submit pertinent data for consideration.


BACKGROUND
Registered at PROSPERO CRD42015027439 CONTACT: pretermbirth@who.int.
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland. vogeljo@who.int.
Joshua P
JP
Vogel
Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Saifon
S
Chawanpaiboon
Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Kanokwaroon
K
Watananirun
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparb Road, Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
Pisake
P
Lumbiganon
Center for Applied Biostatistics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Max
M
Petzold
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ann-Beth
AB
Moller
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparb Road, Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
Jadsada
J
Thinkhamrop
Department of Biostatistics and Demography, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Malinee
M
Laopaiboon
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Armando H
AH
Seuc
Information, Evidence and Research (IER), World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Daniel
D
Hogan
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ozge
O
Tunçalp
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Emma
E
Allanson
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ana Pilar
AP
Betrán
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Mercedes
M
Bonet
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
Olufemi T
OT
Oladapo
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland.
A Metin
AM
Gülmezoglu
D001723:Birth Rate; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014944:World Health Organization
Estimates; Global; National; Preterm birth; Regional; Trends