The economic costs of preterm birth for families, communities and to the nation is high in terms of neonatal intensive care, ongoing medical care, early intervention services and educational needs. The social cost is also high, with many families suffering of the sudden loss of a preterm baby or a stressful hospital stay, occasionally for months. Preterm birth not only resulted in economic burdens due to initial neonatal treatment but also in substantial costs to health services after discharge from the neonatal unit. Therefore, priority is desirable for communication of the degree of this health issue to politicians and health authorities, nationally and
