Reducing the preterm birth rate: a population health strategy.
The rate of preterm birth has been increasing in Canada and the United States. Efforts to prevent preterm birth have been largely ineffective. A population health strategy that integrates disease prevention and health promotion is needed. In this article, the five categories of health determinants proposed by the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health are used as a framework to discuss risk factors and propose policies and interventions to reduce the preterm birth rate.
Heaman
M I
MI
Faculty of Nursing, Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. maureen_heaman@umanitoba.ca
Sprague
A E
AE
Stewart
P J
PJ
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology