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The Role of Social Support in the Prevention of Preterm Birth
Author(s) -
Bryce Robert L.,
Stanley Fiona J.,
Enkin Murray W.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
birth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.233
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1523-536X
pISSN - 0730-7659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-536x.1988.tb01078.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , social support , intervention (counseling) , medicine , pregnancy , psychology , social class , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , political science , biology , law , genetics
Preterm birth is the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. This tragic outcome occurs most frequently among mothers of lower social class and those with few psychosocial resources, including social support. Intervention studies supplying social support in other health fields have demonstrated improved psychosocial and behavioral outcomes, but not physical outcomes. This is a review of the current information about such effects and a description of studies that are attempting to test the effect of supplemental social support in pregnancy on physical outcomes such as preterm birth.