Preterm Birth

Richard E. Behrman, Adrienne Stith Butler, Editors, Committee on Understanding Premature Birth and Assuring Healthy Outcomes

• 1 Front Matter; 2 Summary; 3 1 Introduction; 4 SECTION I Measurement : 2 Measurement of Fetal and Infant Maturity; 5 Section I Recommendations; 6 SECTION II Causes of Preterm Birth: 3 Behavioral and Psychosocial Contributors to Preterm Birth; 7 4 Sociodemographic and Community Factors Contributing to Preterm Birth; 8 5 Medical and Pregnancy Conditions Associated with Preterm Birth; 9 6 Biological Pathways Leading to Preterm Birth; 10 7 Role of Gene-Environment Interactions in Preterm Birth; 11 8 Role of Environmental Toxicants in Preterm Birth; 12 Section II Recommendations; 13 SECTION III Diagnosis and Treatment of Preterm Labor: 9 Diagnosis and Treatment of Conditions Leading to Spontaneous Preterm Birth; 14 Section III Recommendations; 15 SECTION IV Consequences of Preterm Birth: 10 Mortality and Acute Complications in Preterm Infants; 16 11 Neurodevelopmental, Health, and Family Outcomes for Infants Born Preterm; 17 12 Societal Costs of Preterm Birth; 18 Section IV Recommendations; 19 SECTION V Research and Policy: 13 Barriers to Clinical Research on Preterm Birth and Outcomes of Preterm Infants; 20 14 Public Policies Affected by Preterm Birth; 21 Section V Recommendations; 22 15 A Research Agenda to Investigate Preterm Birth; 23 References; 24 Appendix A Data Sources and Methods; 25 Appendix B Prematurity at Birth: Determinents, Consequences, and Geographic Variation; 26 Appendix C A Review of Ethical Issues involved in Premature Birth; 27 Appendix D A Systematic Review of Costs Associated with Preterm Birth; 28 Appendix E Selected Programs Funding Preterm Birth Research; 29 Appendix F Committee and Staff Biographies; 30 Index