Abstract
Preterm Birth (PB) is a major public health problem worldwide. It’s the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. PB usually affects 5 to 7 percent of births, but is estimated to be substantially higher in developing countries [1]. Despite four decades the rate of premature births has not changed. Survival rates have increased, and morbidity has decreased because of technologic advances in perinatal and neonatal medicine.
Highlights
Preterm Birth (PB) is a major public health problem worldwide
PB rates have not decreased in the last 50 years and in most developed countries continue to rise despite advances in knowledge of the risk factors and mechanisms related to preterm labour
Factors possibly contributing to but not completely explaining this upward trend include increasing rates of multiple births, greater use of assisted reproduction techniques, increases in the proportion of births among women over 34 years of age and changes in clinicalpractices
Summary
Preterm Birth (PB) is a major public health problem worldwide. It’s the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. PB rates have not decreased in the last 50 years and in most developed countries continue to rise despite advances in knowledge of the risk factors and mechanisms related to preterm labour. Factors possibly contributing to but not completely explaining this upward trend include increasing rates of multiple births, greater use of assisted reproduction techniques, increases in the proportion of births among women over 34 years of age and changes in clinicalpractices (greater use of elective Caesarean Section; the increasing use of ultrasonography rather than the date of the last menstrual period to estimate gestational agemay have resulted in larger numbers of births being classified as preterm; Iatrogenic PBs etc).
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