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Pakistan study suggests microbiome may influence preterm birth

NPR | By Diaa Hadid

Published July 27, 2026 at 2:42 PM PDT

A Pakistan study finds one bacteria in pregnant women's colons can indicate her likelihood of reaching full term or having a premature baby.

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Diaa Hadid

Diaa Hadid chiefly covers Pakistan and Afghanistan for NPR News. She is based in NPR's bureau in Islamabad. There, Hadid and her team were awarded a Murrow in 2019 for hard news for their story on why abortion rates in Pakistan are among the highest in the world.

Pakistan study suggests microbiome may influence preterm birth

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Pakistan study suggests microbiome may influence preterm birth

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