Prematurity: An Overview and Public Health Implications

Abstract

The high rate of premature births in the United States remains a public health concern. These infants experience substantial morbidity and mortality in the newborn period, which translate into significant medical costs. In early childhood, survivors are characterized by a variety of health problems, including motor delay and/or cerebral palsy, lower IQs, behavior problems, and respiratory illness, especially asthma. Many experience difficulty with school work, lower health-related quality of life, and family stress. Emerging information in adolescence and young adulthood paints a more optimistic picture, with persistence of many problems but with better adaptation and more positive expectations by the young adults. Few opportunities for prevention have been identified; therefore, public health approaches to prematurity include assurance of delivery in a facility capable of managing neonatal complications, quality improvement to minimize interinstitutional variations, early developmental support for such infants, and attention to related family health issues.

Perinatal Dissociation and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Mothers of Preterm Infants: A Comparative Study

“…However, preterm birth is still the leading cause of infant mortality, pediatric morbidity, and long-term disability [1].…”

Inpatients Disease and Trends

“…In our hospital, 18.6% of the inborn infants were born preterm at annual deliveries [11]. Preterm infants are at considerable risk for neonatal mortality and morbidities [12,13]. The incidence of preterm delivery, which has increased in recent years, is associated with various epidemiological and clinical risk factors [14].…”

Dual effects of melatonin on uterine myoelectrical activity of non-pregnant rats

“…Therefore, the results obtained here have the potential to be translated into clinical therapy, as melatonin is a common product that is available as a dietary supplement that is suitable for use during pregnancy (26). In obstetrical practice, preterm delivery is one of the most common pregnancy complications and the leading factor of neonatal mortality and morbidity (27,28). It has been concluded that the use of currently known tocolytic agents in cases of preterm labor does not reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality (29).…”