European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Perspectives in the prevention of premature birth
Section snippets
Preventive strategies and their results
The prevalence of premature birth remains high in many countries, including the United States (11%) [1], Canada (7%) [2] and France (7%) [3]. Furthermore, the frequency of premature birth in these countries has increased by 10–20% in the last few years [2], [3]. This is worrying, because 60% of neonatal deaths and almost half of all cases of cerebral palsy occur in children born before term [1], [4]. Obstetric and neonatal practices have changed. Improvements in screening for fetal distress and
Perspectives in the prevention of premature birth
Some authors have proposed that the relative failure of preventive programmes may be due to the tendency for them to be too highly targeted [2]. These programmes are often designed to reduce preterm birth rate in women at high risk whereas (1) 60% of premature babies are born to women at low risk; (2) a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes has a major effect on the risk of premature birth, but is difficult to target; and (3) many factors may interact in a complex manner [8]. Thus, even if it
Acknowledgements
We owe sincere thanks to Gérard Bréart for helpful advice during the preparation of this review.
References (32)
The management of preterm labour
Obstet. Gynecol.
(2002)- et al.
Reducing the preterm birth rate: a population health strategy
J. Obstet. Gynecol. Neonatal Nurs.
(2001) Method of delivery for preterm infant
BJOG
(2003)- et al.
Bacterial vaginosis: prevalence and predictive value for premature delivery and neonatal infection in women with preterm labour and intact membranes
Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol.
(2003) - et al.
Prophylactic administration of progesterone by vaginal suppository to reduce incidence of spontaneous preterm birth in women at increased risk: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study
Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.
(2003) - et al.
Working conditions and adverse pregnancy outcome: a meta-analysis
Obstet. Gynecol.
(2000) - et al.
Pathogenesis of preterm labour and preterm premature rupture of membranes associated with intraamniotic infection
Infect. Dis. Clin. North Am.
(1997) - et al.
Periodontal infection and preterm birth-results of a prospective study
J. Am. Dent. Assoc.
(2001) - et al.
Trends in the occurrence, determinants, and consequences of multiple births
Seminars in Perinatology
(2002) - et al.
Bréart G pour la coordination nationale des enquêtes nationales périnatales. Evolution des principaux indicateurs de santé périnatale en France métropolitaine entre 1995 et 1998. Résultats des enquêtes nationales périnatales
J. Gynecol. Obstet. Biol. Reprod.
(2001)
Changing panorama of cerebral palsy in Sweden. VIII. Prevalence and origin in the birth year period 1991–94
Acta Paediatr.
The effects of corticosteroid administration before preterm delivery: an overview of the evidence from controlled trials
BJOG
Trend in cerebral palsy birth prevalence in eastern Denmark: birth-year period 1979–86
Paediatr. Perinat. Epidemiol.
Preterm birth prevention: an evaluation of programs in the United States
Birth
Prevention of premature birth
N. Engl. J. Med.
Social and medical support during pregnancy: an overview of the randomized controlled trials
Prenat. Neonat. Med.
Cited by (14)
Risk factors associated with spontaneous preterm deliveries before 30 weeks in Martinique F.W.I.: A case-control study
2014, Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la ReproductionEffects of oral l-arginine on the pulsatility indices of umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery in preterm labor
2008, European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive BiologyCitation Excerpt :It accounts for about 5–10% of all deliveries, but for 75% of neonatal mortality and 50% of long-term neurological complications [1]. The mechanisms responsible for preterm delivery remain poorly understood and current drug therapies have not been shown to significantly affect perinatal casualties [2]. Nitric oxide (NO), a potent smooth muscle relaxant, synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from l-arginine was shown to be produced in myometrium and to be responsible for the inhibition of myometrial contractions and maintenance of feto-placental circulation [3–5].
Physical abuse during pregnancy and preterm delivery
2008, American Journal of Obstetrics and GynecologyCirculating Extracellular Vesicles microRNAs Are Altered in Women Undergoing Preterm Birth
2023, International Journal of Molecular SciencesEvaluation of Preterm Birth and its Associated Risk Factors in Southeast Iran in 2020: A Glance to Social and Care Factors
2023, Open Public Health JournalShort-and Long-Term Effects of Adverse and Painful Experiences During Very Early Childhood
2023, Handbook of Mind-Body Integration in Child and Adolescent Development