New Strategies to Tackle the Combined Biological and Social Context of Preterm Birth

Diana Montoya-Williams; Ramzi G. Salloum; Scott A. Lorch

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1695774

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2021; 38(02): 202-204
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1695774

Commentary

New Strategies to Tackle the Combined Biological and Social Context of Preterm Birth

Diana Montoya-Williams

¹Division of Neonatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Attending Neonatologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

,

Ramzi G. Salloum

²Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Florida

,

Scott A. Lorch

³Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective Preterm birth rates in the population and associated racial inequities have remained relatively unchanged in the United States despite research aimed at prevention. This is potentially the result of the multifactorial pathophysiologic pathways that result in preterm birth, where biological and social drivers intersect in unique ways for different women. The field of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science may address this issue by promoting the contextually-aware uptake of science into health and health care delivery.

Study Design In this paper, we describe how the field of D&I science may afford new perspectives on preterm birth prevention to researchers and tools to design studies that translate clinical trial data into measurable changes at the level of the population. We discuss key examples where the perspectives and tools of D&I science have been used in conjunction with quality improvement methodology to change preterm birth rates in large population studies. We build on these case studies and suggest future D&I science-informed studies that could be explored.

Conclusion Incorporating D&I scientific principles into the design of studies to prevent preterm birth may allow future research to better address the varied ways in which social forces comingle with biological risk factors to result in preterm birth.

Keywords

dissemination science - implementation science - population health - prematurity - social determinants

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References

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