Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal death and disability and is an important public health problem globally (1). Preterm birth occurs most commonly in economically disadvantaged communities and those with high rates of urinary and genital tract infection. The problem of preterm birth in under-resourced settings is compounded by a lack of neonatal health-care facilities and access to expensive interventions such as surfactant therapy. Information on the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids, a comparatively inexpensive intervention, is thus particularly relevant for these settings. This commentary covers three Cochrane reviews that sought to: (i) "assess the effects on fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, on maternal mortality and morbidity, and on the child in later life of administering corticosteroids to the mother before anticipated preterm birth" (2); "assess the effectiveness and safety of a repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids" (3); and "assess the effects of different corticosteroid regimens for women at risk of preterm birth" (4).