Global Study Finds Wide Gaps in Use of Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate, With Steroids Applied More Consistently

Overview

• A peer-reviewed analysis published February 25, 2026 reports persistent international disparities in giving magnesium sulfate to mothers at risk of very preterm birth.
• The study analyzed 45,619 infants born at 24–32 weeks in 1,111 Vermont Oxford Network hospitals across ten countries and corroborated findings with the UK National Neonatal Research Database and a review covering 288,631 preterm births.
• Use of magnesium sulfate varied sharply by country, exceeding 80% in the UK and Ireland but reaching only 33.6% in South Africa and 44.5% in the United Arab Emirates.
• Higher-income countries averaged 74.8% magnesium sulfate use versus 49.4% in middle-income countries, and the equity gap has not narrowed over time.
• Antenatal corticosteroids were used more consistently across settings, though gaps remain, and the authors highlight England’s PReCePT program as a blueprint for scaling effective implementation.