Preterm Birth : Causes, Consequences, and Prevention

The increasing prevalence of preterm birth in the United States is a complex public health problem that requires multifaceted solutions.

The preterm birth phenomenon is a cluster of problems with a set of overlapping factors of influence.

Causes may include individual-level behavioral and psychosocial factors, socio-demographic and neighborhood characteristics, environmental exposure, medical conditions, infertility treatments, and biological factors.

Many of these factors co-occur, particularly in those who have low socio-economic or minority status.

While advances in perinatal and neonatal care have improved survival for preterm infants, those infants who do survive have a greater risk of developmental disabilities, health and growth problems with significant economic costs for families and communities. "Preterm Birth" assesses the phenomenon with respect to both its causes and outcomes.

This book addresses the need for research involving clinical, basic, behavioral, and social science disciplines. By defining and addressing the health and economic consequences of premature birth, this book will be of particular interest to health care professionals, public health officials, policy makers, professional associations and clinical, basic, behavioral, and social science researchers.