Preterm Birth: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Management

Preterm birth is defined by WHO as birth before the 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation or before 259 days, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period. Preterm Birth: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Management presents an overview of the epidemiologic characteristics of women who deliver their neonates prematurely, in order to understand the depth of this major obstetrical problem. Paternal risk factors, including paternal anthropometric and genetic characteristics and life-style habits, are addressed in conjunction with fetal characteristics which may be responsible for increasing the risk of preterm birth. The authors discuss three important omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention of osteopenia of the preterm newborn: alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. The concluding study explores the mechanisms that link periodontitis with adverse pregnancy outcomes and presents a comprehensive critical review of the current scientific stand regarding this relationship.