Table 4 Epidemiology of Preterm Delivery
| Overarching Goal: To improve collection, analysis, interpretation, and application of epidemiological data as a basis for interventions to reduce preterm birth | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milestones* | |||||
| Output | Post-Conference (by 2010) | Short-Term (by 2012) | Intermediate (by 2015) | Long-Term (beyond 2015) | Success Metrics |
| A. Improve descriptive epidemiology of PTB |
1. Create expert group to define phenotypes of PTB 2. Develop tools/algorithm for gestational age assessment relevant to community-based resources 3. Develop standard definitions for impairment outcomes |
4. Selective testing of gestational age assessment tools 5. Establish surveillance sites in LMICs 6. Promote incorporation of phenotype definitions into existing perinatal databases in HICs | 7. Prepare global, country-specific report of PTB and trends |
• Peer review publications • Improved understanding of country specific etiologies of PTB • Accurate global charts of PTB rates | |
| B. Improve analytical (riskfactor identification) epidemiology | 1. Systematic review of risk factors for PTB in different settings (Global report on preterm birth and stillbirth) |
2. Assess verbal autopsy to measure risk factors 3. Promote phenotype definition 4.Incorporate phenotype definitions in global databases | 5. Prepare global, country-specific report of PTB and trends |
• Peer review publications • Improved understanding of country-specific etiologies of PTB • Accurate global charts of PTB rates | |
| C. Strengthen data collection and analysis capacity to inform health policy |
1. Identify existing networks, stakeholders in PTB research 2. Develop structure for collaborating and disseminating resources among networks and stakeholders 3.Raise political awareness |
4. Investigate low-tech data entry resources 5. Train personnel in data collection at local and regional levels | 6. Cost-effective surveillance | 7. Cost-effective surveillance |
• Adoption of standardized collection and analysis tools • Resource infrastructure that can be shared between networks and stakeholders |