The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59807

Janis Biermann, MS, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-997-4434, jbiermann@marchofdimes.com

In 2001, approximately 476,000 newborns, or 11.9 percent of all babies born in the U.S., were preterm. Prematurity/low birthweight is the leading cause of neonatal mortality, accounting for 23 percent of deaths in the first month of life. Preterm birth may also account for 100,000 cases each year of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, vision or hearing problems. The March of Dimes launched its Prematurity Campaign on January 30, 2003 to raise awareness about the problems of prematurity and to reduce the rate of preterm birth by 15%, from the rate of 11.9 to 10.1 by the year 2007. Prematurity is generally acknowledged to be a complex issue. Approximately 25% of preterm births result from preterm premature rupture of membranes, and another quarter of preterm births result from intervention primarily for medical reasons. Therefore, almost half of all preterm births have no known cause. Data from a random digit dialed telephone survey conducted in 2002 on what the public, including pregnant women, perceive to be the causes, risks and impact of preterm births will be presented. Year 2003 survey data is expected to be available for this presentation as well. How the March of Dimes used the survey information to develop their national campaign messages and tools for consumers and health care providers will be discussed. Risk factors for preterm births, including behavior and lifestyle, will be reviewed. Strategies for risk reduction will be presented. The need to support research on clinical interventions to prevent preterm labor will be emphasized.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• List 5 maternal behavior or lifestyle risk factors for preterm birth.
• Articulate two key findings of the national survey of the general public's perception, attitudes and beliefs related to preterm birth.
• Describe the March of Dimes plans to address risk identification and risk reduction for preterm birth.

Keywords: Pregnancy Outcomes, Risk Factors

Related Web page: www.marchofdimes.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.