Low Birth Weight Infant Outcome Mortality Intensive Care

Despite recent declines in infant mortality, the rates of low birthweight deliveries in the United States continue to be high. Part I of this volume defines the significance of the problems, presents current data on risk factors and etiology, and reviews recent state and national trends in the incidence of low birthweight among various groups. Part II describes the preventive approaches found most desirable and considers their costs. Research needs are discussed throughout the volume.

The increasing prevalence of preterm birth in the United States is a complex public health problem that requires multifaceted solutions. Preterm birth is a cluster of problems with a set of overlapping factors of influence. Its causes may include individual-level behavioral and psychosocial factors, sociodemographic and neighborhood characteristics, environmental exposure, medical conditions, infertility treatments, and biological factors. Many of these factors co-occur, particularly in those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. While advances in perinatal and neonatal care have improved survival for preterm infants, those infants who do survive have a greater risk than infants born at term for developmental disabilities, health problems, and poor growth. The birth of a preterm infant can also bring considerable emotional and economic costs to families and have implications for public-sector services, such as health insurance, educational, and other social support systems. Preterm Birth assesses the problem 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.

This Volume, The Low Birth Weight Baby, Is A Timely Update Of Progress In A Field That Has Tended To Be Neglected In Recent Years. Although We Are Yet To Discover A Method To Precisely Predict The Occurrence Of Preterm Labour, There Have Been Spectacular Improvements In The Prospects For Survival Of Low Birthweight Infants. The Use Of Antepartum Steroids And Advances In Neonatal Intensive Care Have Brought About These Changes. This Volume Covers These And Other Improvements As A Result Of Which The Reader Of This Volume Will Be Left With The Comfortable Feeling That He Or She Knows Everything Worth Knowing About The Subject. The Contributors Are Veterans In The Field Who Have A Broad Perspective Of Their Subject And Are Not Tempted To Embrace The Newest Unconfirmed Theory.

Each year more than 4 million children are born with birth defects. This book highlights the unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of children and families in developing countries by preventing some birth defects and reducing the consequences of others. A number of developing countries with more comprehensive health care systems are making significant progress in the prevention and care of birth defects. In many other developing countries, however, policymakers have limited knowledge of the negative impact of birth defects and are largely unaware of the affordable and effective interventions available to reduce the impact of certain conditions. Reducing Birth Defects: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World includes descriptions of successful programs and presents a plan of action to address critical gaps in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of birth defects in developing countries. This study also recommends capacity building, priority research, and institutional and global efforts to reduce the incidence and impact of birth defects in developing countries.

By all indicators, the reproductive health of Americans has been deteriorating since 1980. Our nation is troubled by rates of teen pregnancies and newborn deaths that are worse than almost all others in the Western world. Science and Babies is a straightforward presentation of the major reproductive issues we face that suggests answers for the public. The book discusses how the clash of opinions on sex and family planning prevents us from making a national commitment to reproductive health; why people in the United States have fewer contraceptive choices than those in many other countries; what we need to do to improve social and medical services for teens and people living in poverty; how couples should "shop" for a fertility service and make consumer-wise decisions; and what we can expect in the futureâ€"featuring interesting accounts of potential scientific advances.

Presents country, regional and global estimates of low birthweight for 2000, together with a detailed description of the methodology used. Some limited data on trends are also included.

To determine if promising opportunities exist for reducing the incidence of low birth-weight, the Institute of Medicine established an interdisciplinary committee to study the complex problems of prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation, the twin contributors to low birthweight. The committee was asked to review available measures for preventing or reducing the occurrence of low birthweight in infants; to define those interventions likely to be effective and to consider their costs in relation to the continuing incidence of low birthweight. As background to such an analysis, the group also was asked to assess the relationship of low birthweight to mortality and morbidity; to review existing information on the etiology of low birthweight and the risk factors associated with it; and to examine trends over time. In meeting this charge, the committee has developed a report in two parts. Part I defines and describes the significance of low birthweight, the data on etiology and risk factors, and recent state and national trends in the incidence of low birthweight among various groups. Part II describes the preventive approaches found most desirable and considers their costs.