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Surgeon General’s Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth via webcast

Published June 15th, 2008 in Infant Health, Pregnancy, Preterm Birth
On behalf of the Office of the Surgeon General and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), we would like to extend an invitation to join us for the Surgeon General’s Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth via webcast on June 16 and June 17, 2008.
Preterm birth remains one of the most complicated and difficult to address research and public health issues in obstetrics and pediatrics. More than 12 percent of all babies born in the United States are born preterm, and this rate continues to rise.  

The purpose of the Surgeon General’s Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth is to:

 (1) Increase awareness of preterm birth in the United States;

 (2) Review key findings and reports issued by experts in the field; and  

 (3) Establish a national agenda for activities in both the public and private sectors to address this growing public health problem.  

The live webcast can be viewed starting at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time on June 16, 2008.

 The conference organizers at NICHD have asked Epi Wonk to come out of retirement for two days to participate in one of the scientific workgroups at the meeting in North Bethesda.

Background Reading: (1) The Institute of Medicine report, Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention. (2) RL Goldenberg et al. Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth. Lancet 2008; 371:75-84. (3) JD Iams et al. Primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality of preterm birth. Lancet 2008; 371:164-175. (4) S Saigal & LW Doyle. An overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood. Lancet 2008; 371:261-269.  There’s also quite a bit of information at the March of Dimes website.

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2 Responses to “Surgeon General’s Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth via webcast”  

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  1. 1 Uncle Dave Jun 16th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention

    Thanks for the link and information.
    Interesting that preterm birth appears to be increasing.

  2. 2 Estherar Jun 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    Not very surprising, though, as the age of viability continues to decrease and the number of high-risk women giving birth continues to increase, both thanks to medical technology.

    It is a double-edged sword, however.

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