Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara McElroy, Sindana Ilango, Anna Dimitrova, Alexander Gershunov, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study found that exposure to extreme heat increases the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth, especially in lower- to middle-income countries. It highlights the importance of understanding the impact of extreme heat events on adverse birth outcomes in LMICs.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hannah C. Zierden, Rachel L. Shapiro, Kevin DeLong, Davell M. Carter, Laura M. Ensign
Summary: Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, with 15 million infants born prematurely globally each year, increasing the risk of mortality and health challenges. While the only FDA approved therapy for preventing preterm birth in the U.S. has faced recent setbacks, interdisciplinary efforts are underway to develop next generation therapies to prevent preterm birth and save infant lives. This research aims to better identify women at risk for preterm birth, prevent premature labor, and ultimately improve outcomes for newborns.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lisa Hui, Melvin Barrientos Marzan, Stephanie Potenza, Daniel L. Rolnik, Natasha Pritchard, Joanne M. Said, Kirsten R. Palmer, Clare L. Whitehead, Penelope M. Sheehan, Jolyon Ford, Ben W. Mol, Susan P. Walker
Summary: The lockdown restrictions in Melbourne, Australia were associated with a significant increase in preterm stillbirths among pregnant women exposed to the lockdown, but also led to a significant reduction in iatrogenic preterm births for fetal compromise. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between these two findings and to guide future responses to pandemics.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Sara C. Handley, Anne M. Mullin, Michal A. Elovitz, Kristin D. Gerson, Diana Montoya-Williams, Scott A. Lorch, Heather H. Burris
Summary: This study compared rates of preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth, medically indicated preterm birth, and stillbirth during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with prepandemic rates, using data from the GeoBirth pregnancy cohort of two hospitals in Philadelphia.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jeanne Fresson, Tim A. Bruckner, Camille Le Ray, Francois Goffinet, Sylvie Rey, Beatrice Blondel, Catherine Deneux-Tharaux, Pierre-Yves Ancel, Jennifer Zeitlin
Summary: During the nationwide lockdown in France, late preterm births decreased while cesarean births and stillbirths remained stable. The decrease was more pronounced in districts with low COVID-19 incidence compared to moderate/high incidence districts.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Charles Garabedian, Ninon Dupuis, Christophe Vayssiere, Laurence Bussieres, Yves Ville, Benoit Renaudin, Louise Dugave, Norbert Winer, Nathalie Banaszkiewicz, Patrick Rozenberg, Manon Defrance, Marie-Laure Legris, Thibaud Quibel, Philippe Deruelle
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 lockdown and pregnancy outcomes in maternity hospitals in France, finding that the lockdown did not impact pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, very low birth weight, and stillbirth rates.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Patricia J. Hunter, Yvonne Muthiani, Pieta K. Nasanen-Gilmore, Annariina M. Koivu, Pia Portfors, Kalpana Bastola, Raija Vimpeli, Juho Luoma, Ulla Ashorn, Per Ashorn
Summary: This systematic review examined the effects of seven antenatal nutritional interventions on the risks of adverse birth outcomes. The findings suggest that supplementation with balanced protein and energy, multiple micronutrients, and lipid-based nutrient supplements can reduce the risk of low birth weight and related outcomes in populations with undernutrition. Further investigation is needed to determine the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and calcium supplementation, as well as interventions for pregnant women not gaining weight.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Debatosh B. Partha, Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow, Yaoxian Huang
Summary: Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to toxic volatile organic compounds, known as BTEX, is associated with preterm births. This study used a global chemical transport model and an epidemiological model to quantify the country-specific preterm birth rate attributable to long-term BTEX exposure in 2015. The study found that there were 2.01 million preterm births globally due to BTEX exposure, with the largest contributions from India.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Honghong Wang, Jinghang Jiang, Tingwei Jin, Yifu Wang, Mingli Li, Shengzhu Huang, Juanjuan Xie, Zhongyuan Chen, Yi Guo, Jie Zheng, Yonghua Jiang, Zengnan Mo
Summary: This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationships between cytokine levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results showed that cytokines were associated with offspring's birth weight, preterm birth, spontaneous miscarriage, and stillbirth. Additionally, smoking and obesity were identified as potential mediators in these causal relationships.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lisa Hui, Melvin B. Marzan, Daniel L. Rolnik, Stephanie Potenza, Natasha Pritchard, Joanne M. Said, Kirsten R. Palmer, Clare L. Whitehead, Penelope M. Sheehan, Jolyon Ford, Ben W. Mol, Susan P. Walker
Summary: This retrospective multicenter cohort study examined the impact of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes. The study found that vaccinated pregnant women had a lower risk of stillbirth and preterm birth, without any adverse effects on fetal growth or development. Vaccine coverage was influenced by social determinants of health.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Maria Delius, Thomas Kolben, Claudia Nussbaum, Viktoria Bogner-Flatz, Antonia Delius, Laura Hahn, Johanna Buechel, Uwe Hasbargen, Andreas W. Flemmer, Sven Mahner, Linda Hertlein
Summary: According to data from a tertiary perinatal center in Munich University, Germany, the rate of preterm-born infants decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown period, especially in preterm multiples. This reduction may be attributed to less physical activity due to lockdown measures.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Albee Hin Man Mak, Simona Cicero, Pui Wah Hui
Summary: This retrospective observational study aimed to examine the rate of preterm delivery and stillbirth in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed a significant increase in the rates of spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight babies during the pandemic.
JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
S. Grover, J. S. Brandt, U. M. Reddy, C. Ananth
Summary: Chronic hypertension is significantly associated with perinatal mortality, with preterm delivery playing a key role in this association.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Milan Terzic, Gulzhanat Aimagambetova, Sanja Terzic, Milena Radunovic, Gauri Bapayeva, Antonio Simone Lagana
Summary: Preterm labor refers to birth before 37 weeks of gestation, occurring in 5-20% of pregnancies. Influenced by maternal, fetal, and environmental factors, infectious pathogens may account for 25-40% of preterm birth. The association between maternal periodontal disease, pathogenic oral bacteria in the placenta, and preterm delivery is still controversial in spite of extensive research.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ida Marie Faurholdt, Nynne Halkjaer, Mathilde Christine Boye, Dan W. Meyrowitsch, Caroline Kann, Charlotte E. Thomsen, Laura Sorensen, Kasper M. Gadsboll, Maria Cathrine Schmidt, Julia K. Funge, Marie Norredam
Summary: A study revealed that undocumented pregnant migrant women have a higher risk of preterm birth and stillbirth compared to documented pregnant women. There is a need to prioritize access to antenatal care for women who are currently excluded from such services.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Trevor Duke, Fadia S. AlBuhairan, Koki Agarwal, Narendra K. Arora, Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Fred Binka, Arachu Castro, Mariam Claeson, Blami Dao, Gary L. Darmstadt, Mike English, Fadi Jardali, Michael Merson, Rashida A. Ferrand, Alma Golden, Michael H. Golden, Caroline Homer, Fyezah Jehan, Caroline W. Kabiru, Betty Kirkwood, Joy E. Lawn, Song Li, George C. Patton, Marie Ruel, Jane Sandall, Harshpal Singh Sachdev, Mark Tomlinson, Peter Waiswa, Dilys Walker, Stanley Zlotkin
Summary: Improving knowledge translation in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition requires support for national and regional technical advisory groups, coordination of maternal and child health initiatives, development and promotion of integrated care guidelines, strategies to enhance guideline uptake, and monitoring of gaps in knowledge translation and operational research.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jaya Chandna, Wan-Hsin Liu, Ziyaad Dangor, Shannon Leahy, Santhanam Sridhar, Hima B. John, Humberto Mucasse, Quique Bassat, Azucena Bardaji, Amina Abubakar, Carophine Nasambu, Charles R. Newton, Clara Sanchez Yanotti, Romina Libster, Kate Milner, Proma Paul, Joy E. Lawn
Summary: This multicountry cohort study found that school-aged survivors of invasive group B Streptococcus (iGBS) disease are at increased risk for mild emotional-behavioral problems. These findings highlight the importance of long-term follow-up and integrated assessments for at-risk neonates, including iGBS survivors, to provide appropriate care. Simplified and culturally adapted assessments are needed for scale-up.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Celine Aerts, Shannon Leahy, Humberto Mucasse, Sanjay Lala, Justina Bramugy, Cally J. Tann, Shabir A. Madhi, Azucena Bardaji, Quique Bassat, Ziyaad Dangor, Joy E. Lawn, Mark Jit, Simon R. Procter
Summary: This study investigated the acute costs of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa and found significant expenses associated with these conditions. The findings will contribute to the economic evaluations of interventions aiming to prevent neonatal invasive bacterial infections.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Joy E. Lawn, Jaya Chandna, Proma Paul, Mark Jit, Caroline Trotter, Philipp Lambach, Ajoke Sobanjo Ter-Meulen
Summary: This article discusses the importance of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) globally and the progress made in research. It calls for increased investment and development in the research pipeline to address the significant burden of GBS on families worldwide.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Pediatrics
Cristiano Siqueira Boccolini, Cesar Gomes Victora
JORNAL DE PEDIATRIA
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Uduak A. Okomo, Saffiatou Darboe, Saikou Y. Bah, Abigail Ayorinde, Sheikh Jarju, Abdul Karim Sesay, Ngange Kebbeh, Abdou Gai, Tida Dibbasey, Mary Grey-Johnson, Kirsty Le Doare, Kathryn E. Holt, Joy E. Lawn, Beate Kampmann
Summary: In this study, we found a low prevalence of vertical transmission of maternal genital tract colonization in maternal-newborn pairs for early-onset neonatal sepsis in the West African context.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Ying Chun Cho, Abdou Gai, Brahima A. Diallo, Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Joy E. Lawn, Melisa Martinez-Alvarez, Helen Brotherton
Summary: This study aimed to understand the barriers and enablers for early Kangaroo mother care (KMC) prior to stability from the perspectives of neonatal health care workers (HCW) in a high neonatal mortality resource limited setting. The barriers included unavailability of mothers during early neonatal unit admission, safety concerns, insufficient resources, and lack of privacy and respectful care. The enablers included education of HCW, sensitization of fathers and the community, and peer-to-peer support.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Linde Snoek, Bronner P. Goncalves, Erzsebet Horvath-Puho, Merel N. van Kassel, Simon R. Procter, Kirstine K. Sogaard, Jaya Chandna, Arie van der Ende, Diederik van de Beek, Matthijs C. Brouwer, Henrik T. Sorensen, Joy E. Lawn, Merijn W. Bijlsma
Summary: This study assesses the short-term and long-term risks of mortality, neurodevelopmental impairment, healthcare use, and household income in children with a history of bacterial meningitis during infancy in Denmark and the Netherlands. The study finds that survivors of bacterial meningitis have a five times higher risk of neurodevelopmental impairment at age 10 and increased healthcare use. The study emphasizes the importance of pathogen-specific estimation of meningitis burden and its impact on the individual and population levels.
LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lenka Benova, Joy E. Lawn, Wendy Graham, Elise M. Chapin, Patience A. Afulani, Soo Downe, Tedbabe Degefie Hailegebriel, Ornella Lincetto, Emma Sacks
Summary: This synopsis provides an overview of the disparities in the quality of maternity care and the inequalities within and between countries in the European region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Proma Paul, Bronner P. Goncalves, Kirsty Le Doare, Joy E. Lawn
Summary: The purpose of this review is to evaluate preventive strategies for maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. The study found that in some low- and middle-income countries where intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has not been implemented, there is a high incidence and mortality rate of early-onset GBS disease. Late-onset GBS disease, preterm birth, and stillbirth, which are not preventable by IAP, remain a public health problem in both high- and low-middle-income settings. Microbiology-based screening may be more effective than risk factor-based screening, but compliance is imperfect even in high-income countries. Several maternal vaccine candidates are being developed as alternative prevention strategies, and modeling suggests that they could be cost-effective in most scenarios.
CURRENT OPINION IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lorena Suarez-Idueta, Robespierre Pita, Hannah Blencowe, Arturo Barranco, Jesus F. Gonzalez, Enny S. Paixao, Mauricio L. Barreto, Joy E. Lawn, Eric O. Ohuma
Summary: This study linked administrative databases of live births and under-five child deaths in Mexico to explore mortality and trends for preterm, SGA, and LGA children. The results showed that neonatal mortality rate was higher in preterm infants compared to term infants, SGA children had a higher mortality rate compared to AGA children, infants born at <28 weeks had the highest mortality rate, and LGA children had no additional risk compared to AGA children. This study demonstrated the importance of linked data in understanding neonatal vulnerability and child mortality, and provided a valuable resource for future population-based research.
PAEDIATRIC AND PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Simon Procter, Bronner P. Goncalves, Proma Paul, Jaya Chandna, Farah Seedat, Artemis Koukounari, Raymond Hutubessy, Caroline Trotter, Joy E. Lawn, Mark Jit
Summary: This study assessed the health impact and cost-effectiveness of GBS maternal vaccination globally. The results showed that a GBS maternal vaccination program could significantly reduce the burden of infant mortality and disability, and it is a cost-effective intervention.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Oscar J. Mujica, Antonio Sanhueza, Liliana Carvajal-Velez, Luis Paulo Vidaletti, Janaina C. Costa, Aluisio J. D. Barros, Cesar G. Victora
Summary: This study aims to document the progress in maternal and child health indicators in Latin American and Caribbean countries from 2011 to 2020. It also assesses the evolution of socioeconomic inequalities within each country over time.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Proma Paul, Jaya Chandna, Simon R. Procter, Ziyaad Dangor, Shannon Leahy, Sridhar Santhanam, Hima B. John, Quique Bassat, Justina Bramugy, Azucena Bardaji, Amina Abubakar, Carophine Nasambu, Romina Libster, Clara Sanchez Yanotti, Farah Seedat, Erzsebet Horvath-Puho, A. K. M. Tanvir Hossain, Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman, Mark Jit, Charles R. Newton, Kate Milner, Bronner P. Goncalves, Joy E. Lawn
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term consequences of GBS disease in early infancy. The results showed that children with a history of iGBS disease had a higher risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI), but there were significant variations in risk between different locations. The study highlights the importance of long-term follow-up for at-risk newborns and more feasible assessment methods.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Alexandra Molina Garcia, James H. Cross, Elizabeth J. A. Fitchett, Kondwani Kawaza, Uduak Okomo, Naomi E. Spotswood, Msandeni Chiume, Veronica Chinyere Ezeaka, Grace Irimu, Nahya Salim, Elizabeth M. Molyneux, Joy E. Lawn
Summary: This scoping review collected literature on infection prevention and care bundles in neonatal units in LMICs, constructed a classification framework, and found that primary prevention is the most important element, while detection is lacking.