RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Despite the known benefits of antenatal corticosteroids therapy its use in clinical practice is not generalized. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to antenatal corticosteroids non administration. METHODS: Cross-sectional and descriptive study that included patients admitted to Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca", who had indication for antenatal corticosteroids therapy but did not receive it. Variables: antenatal corticosteroids therapy prescription, factors related to antenatal corticosteroids therapy non administration and lapsed time between diagnosis and birth. RESULTS: Antenatal corticosteroids therapy were not prescribed in 79 (94%) of 84 patients. Main related factors were imminent birth and severe maternal complication. The longer amount of time from diagnosis to birth was before hospitalization (91 vs. 9%, p <0.0005). CONCLUSION: The biggest and best opportunity for the administration of inducers of fetal lung maturity is during prenatal care, when cases with increased risk of preterm birth are detected.
