Trabalho de parto prematuro: fatores de risco e estratégias para a sua predição e prevenção

Abstract

Preterm birth remains the leading public health problem in obstetrics. Interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality of preterm birth can be primary (directed to all women), secondary (aimed at eliminating or reducing existing risk), or tertiary (intended to improve outcomes for preterm infants). Given these considerations, the primary objective was to identify the biological factors related to maternal complications in pregnancy that can trigger preterm labor. The integrative literature search was made in articles indexed and available on Medline, Pubmed, BIREME and SciELO. The selected publications during the period 1996-2009, showed the methodology (very) well described and accurate, ie, allowing the playback of the research results presented clearly and the conclusions were in line with the objectives and results obtained. Exclusion criteria for the preparation of this study was of opinion articles, authors and / or which were repeated in the same database. We conclude that most efforts to date have been interventions such as prenatal care and treatment with corticosteroids, tocolytics and antibiotics. These measures have reduced perinatal morbidity and mortality, but the incidence of preterm delivery is higher. Advances in primary and secondary care, following strategies used for other health problems more complex, are needed to prevent diseases related to prematurity.