PIP: Satisfactory rates of fetal weight gain and development are important for health in infancy, childhood, and adult life. Maternal infection, however, may retard fetal growth. Accessible and effective treatment for infection is therefore vital not only for the general health and well-being of women, but also to prevent the adverse effects of infection on fetal growth and development. Prevention and treatment interventions should pay attention to environment, poverty, lifestyle, diet, and the provision of health services for women which are user friendly and efficient. New strategies for the community-based management of a range of infections in women are also needed, especially with regard to reproductive tract infections. Such strategies will require sensitive consideration of cultural beliefs and practices as well as the development and delivery of health services providing effective, affordable, and acceptable treatment. The paper discusses the disadvantages of being born small, the multiple causes of intrauterine growth retardation, maternal infection and fetal nutrition, infection and maternal nutrition, placental dysfunction, fetal infection, prevention, problems with access to treatment for infection, culturally appropriate medication, and pre-pregnancy infection.