EFFICACY OF PREMATURE BIRTH PREVENTION METHODS IN HIGH-RISK PREGNANT WOMEN: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Preterm birth (PP) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and is often associated with long-term complications. Several prevention methods have been proposed to reduce the incidence of PP, especially in high-risk pregnant women. This integrative review aims to analyze the efficacy of prevention methods in pregnant women with identified risk factors for PP, including progesterone prophylaxis, cervical cerclage, antibiotics, and lifestyle interventions, such as stress modulation and adequate nutrition. The analysis of clinical studies and systematic reviews revealed that progesterone was effective in reducing the rate of PP in women with a history of previous preterm birth and in pregnant women with a shortened cervix. Cervical cerclage has been shown to be effective in pregnant women at high risk due to cervical incompetence. In addition, interventions to control intrauterine infection and hormonal treatments are also addressed, with variations in efficacy depending on the clinical characteristics of the pregnant women. It is concluded that the combination of methods, associated with constant monitoring, can provide a more effective approach in the prevention of PP, especially in high-risk pregnant women.