Public Health Implications of Very Preterm Birth

Clin Perinatol. 2018 Sep;45(3):565-577. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2018.05.007.

Abstract

With advanced perinatal care and technology, survival among infants born very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) has improved dramatically over the last several decades. However, adverse medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes for those born very preterm remains high, particularly at the lowest gestational ages. Public health plays a critical role in providing data to assess population-based risks associated with very preterm birth, addressing disparities, and identifying opportunities for prevention, including improving the health of reproductive-age women, before, during, and after pregnancy.

Keywords: Disparities; Extreme preterm birth; Neurodevelopmental outcomes; Public health implications; Very preterm birth.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Extremely Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / economics
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth / economics
  • Premature Birth / epidemiology*
  • Premature Birth / prevention & control
  • Public Health*
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Determinants of Health*