Abstract

Effect of Preterm Birth in Public Health

Author(s): Brando Backs

Over the past few decades, survival rates for infants born very preterm (less than 32 weeks gestation) have significantly increased thanks to advancements in perinatal care and technology. However, for infants born very preterm, negative medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes are still common, especially at the youngest gestational ages. The improvement of the health of women of reproductive age before, during, and after pregnancy is one way that public health plays a crucial role in providing data to assess population-based hazards associated with extremely preterm delivery, address inequities, and find possibilities for prevention.