What is Preterm Birth

This chapter provides an overview of maternal healthcare in low-income countries and pertinent women's health issues. The first section discusses routine prenatal care recommendations, including the diagnosis and management of common infectious complications of pregnancy such as malaria, HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika viruses. The author then discusses the diagnosis and management of common antepartum obstetrical complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, management of antepartum hemorrhage, and management of preterm labor and preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes. Finally, the chapter covers normal labor and delivery, induction of labor, complications of labor and delivery such as postpartum hemorrhage and infections, and cesarean sections. The last section takes a look at pressing women's health issues such as obstetrical fistulas, cervical cancer, and women's decision-making autonomy.