[Prevention of prematurity].
Premature delivery is defined as birth between 22 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Perinatal mortality and morbidity and their sequellae are strongly linked to gestational age. Minimum prematurity is around 3% of births. Medical risks of premature birth should be detected outside of pregnancy (uterine) or during pregnancy, at the first outpatient visit, the critical moment for establishing factors of risk. Preventive measures include awakening women to their responsibility, before and during pregnancy, and suppressing toxic agents (tobacco and alcohol). Treatment of medical causes of preterm birth is more effective if accompanied by measures acting on the environment, such as rest adapted to fatigue, improved environmental conditions, decentralisation and local situation of medical follow-up and social assistance, hospitalisation at home, telesurveillance and, in severe cases, total hospital rest (for which alternatives such as family hotels should be sought). Every element of the existing structures should be used complementarily.