Table 1 Priority evidence-based interventions during pregnancy to reduce preterm birth rates and to benefit the premature baby

• Basic package for all pregnant women

• Situational interventions for populations of women at high exposure risk (e.g. identification and treatment of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV)

• Behavioural, social support and financial interventions for disadvantaged women

Management of pregnant women at higher risk of preterm birth including:

• Identification and treatment of pre-existing conditions (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disease, heart disease, asthma and other chronic conditions)

• Identification and treatment of pregnancy complications (e.g., pre-eclampsia, antepartum haemorrhage)

• Monitoring multiple pregnancies

• Administration of progesterone to prolong pregnancy

• Identification and treatment of structural abnormalities (e.g., cervical cerclage, cervical pessary)

Management of women in preterm labour including:

• Tocolytics to slow down labour

• Antenatal corticosteroids to reduce mortality in the newborn

• Antibiotics for pPROM to prevent infection

• Provision of magnesium sulphate for neuro-protection of the newborn

Community interventions:

• Promote antenatal and skilled birth care for all women

• Smoking cessation programmes

• Reductions in exposure to secondhand smoke and other pollutants

Policy interventions:

• Policies to support safe motherhood and universal access to antenatal care

• Workplace policies regulating working hours and strenuous working conditions

• Professional and hospital policies to regulate infertility treatments and to reduce caesarean section rates and early induction of labour