Reducing preterm and low birthweight births: still a nursing challenge.

Preterm birth and low birthweight are correlated with much of the infant death seen in the United States. Despite 15 years of research, both preterm birth rates and low birthweight rates continue to increase. This article describes what is known about the prevention of preterm birth and low birthweight, and offers advice to nurses for nursing interventions that could prove effective in preventing such tragedies in the future.

[1]  D. Fine,et al.  Sexual abuse as a factor in adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment. , 1992, Family planning perspectives.

[2]  P. Meis,et al.  A Randomized Trial of Nurse Intervention to Reduce Preterm and Low Birth Weight Births , 1998, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[3]  M. Freda,et al.  Cocaine use during pregnancy and low birth weight: The impact of prenatal care and drug treatment , 1995 .

[4]  R. Goldenberg,et al.  Intrauterine infection and why preterm prevention programs have failed. , 1996, American journal of public health.

[5]  D. Olds,et al.  Review of research on home visiting for pregnant women and parents of young children. , 1993 .

[6]  S. Gange,et al.  Physical and psychosocial side effects of antepartum hospital bed rest. , 1993, Nursing research.

[7]  J. Mcfarlane,et al.  The birth-weight/battering connection. , 1989, The American journal of nursing.

[8]  J. Forrest Epidemiology of unintended pregnancy and contraceptive use. , 1994, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[9]  L. Burton,et al.  Rethinking Teenage Childbearing: Is Sexual Abuse a Missing Link?. , 1990 .

[10]  B. Laumon,et al.  PREMATURITY AND OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY , 1984 .

[11]  Symptoms of Preterm Labor And Self‐Diagnostic Confusion , 1992, Nursing research.

[12]  G. Cutter,et al.  BED REST IN PREGNANCY , 1994, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[13]  M. Freda,et al.  Should intravenous hydration be the first line of defense with threatened preterm labor? A critical review of the literature. , 1996, Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association.

[14]  G. Thurnau,et al.  Antibiotic Therapy for Reduction of Infant Morbidity After Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes: A Randomized Controlled Trial , 1997 .

[15]  J. Iams,et al.  Symptoms that precede preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of the membranes. , 1990, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[16]  J. Hauth,et al.  Reduced incidence of preterm delivery with metronidazole and erythromycin in women with bacterial vaginosis , 1995, The New England journal of medicine.

[17]  B Guyer,et al.  Annual summary of vital statistics--1995. , 1996, Pediatrics.

[18]  L Deligdisch,et al.  Fetal fibronectin in cervical and vaginal secretions as a predictor of preterm delivery. , 1991, The New England journal of medicine.

[19]  K. Fiscella,et al.  Racial disparities in preterm births. The role of urogenital infections. , 1996, Public health reports.

[20]  J. Mcfarlane,et al.  Abuse During Pregnancy: Effects on Maternal Complications and Birth Weight in Adult and Teenage Women , 1994, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[21]  T. Einarson,et al.  Safety of metronidazole in pregnancy: a meta-analysis. , 1995, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[22]  A. Mitchell,et al.  Group B streptococcus and pregnancy: update and recommendations. , 1997, MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing.

[23]  K. Fiscella DOES PRENATAL CARE IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES? A CRITICAL REVIEW , 1995, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[24]  S. Gabbe,et al.  Risk scoring for preterm labor: where do we go from here? , 1987, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[25]  J C Morrison,et al.  The irritable uterus: a risk factor for preterm birth? , 1995, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[26]  K. Holmes,et al.  Independent associations of bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection with adverse pregnancy outcome. , 1986, JAMA.

[27]  J. Hibbard,et al.  Reducing the frequency of low birth weight in the United States. , 1994, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[28]  J. Thorp,et al.  Predictors of positivity for fetal fibronectin in patients with symptoms of preterm labor. , 1997, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[29]  Mary Frances Cotch,et al.  Association between Bacterial Vaginosis and Preterm Delivery of a Low-Birth-Weight Infant , 1995 .