الفهرس 
EP IDEM! OLOGY OF PRETEREM LABOUROnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Although major advances have been made in both obstetric
care of the high-risk patient and in neonatal care, prematurity
and its consequences remain the major contributor to perinatal
mortality, the identification of maternal or obstetric risk factors
associated with preterm delivery has enhanced our ability to provide
special obstetric care to gravid as at increased risk (Gravett,
1984).
Significant risk factors of a preterm delivery included
1 ow socioeconomic status, inadequate weight gain duri ngs the pregnancy;
a previous preterm delivery; a history of infertility
problems; an induced abortion terminating the previous pregnancy;
vaginal spotting or light bleeding during the pregnancy; antepartum
hemarrhage and abnormal placental implantation; lack of leisuretime
physical activities during the pregnancy; alcohol consumption
prior to the third trimester of pregnancy {Berkowitz, 1981).
There is a pressing need for an improved method of diagnosis.
If some biochemical means were available to diagnose preterm labor,
the short-term use of tocolytic therapy would be indicated in
questionable cases of preterm labor, until such time that improved
methods of diagnosis are available. It would seem preferable
to err on the side of overdiagnosis, particularly in very early
preterm labor where neonatal morbidity and mortality are excessively
high (Creasy, 198