Evidence · Systematic review or meta-analysis
Interventions to reduce preterm birth and stillbirth, and improve outcomes for babies born preterm in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
- Delivery room and stabilisation
- Enteral feeding
- Families and professional practice
- Medical
- Newborn life support
- Nursing
- Nutrition and gastrointestinal
- Quality improvement
- Thermoregulation
Summary
A systematic review of 179 studies from 82 low- and middle-income countries (2013–2018) assessing maternal and neonatal interventions to reduce preterm birth and stillbirth and to improve survival of preterm infants. Maternal interventions associated with benefit included multiple micronutrient supplementation and enhanced quality of antenatal care. Neonatal interventions that improved preterm survival included feeding support, including probiotics, and thermal regulation. Improved resuscitation provision alone did not reduce preterm mortality, and the review highlights post-resuscitation care, community mobilisation, health systems strengthening and quality improvement approaches.
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- Open (Creative Commons)
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