Clinical checkups after the first and second trimesters of pregnancy

Clinical checkups after the first and second trimesters of pregnancy were introduced to Country X four years ago. Medical experts claim that the following reduction of 35% in cases of premature labor, one of the main causes of still birth in Country X, is directly connected to the aforementioned clinical checkups.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the medical experts' claim?


A. The clinical checkups were intended for the early identification of women who are at risk of post-natal depression, and not for premature labor prevention. Incorrect

it contradicts with argument;
Although they were not intended for early identification of women who are at risk of post-natal depression, they can be helpful to reduce still birth

B. Four years ago, a dozen hospitals in Country X were given new equipment to facilitate the extraction of new-born babies, thus lowering significantly the number of still births. Correct

still birth reduce not for clinical checkups but for new equipment

C. The cessation of hostilities in Country X coincided with the introduction of clinics offering checkups to pregnant women, and women in war zones are more prone to go into early labor. Incorrect

not relevant

D. Eight years ago, the UN launched a campaign in Country X promoting the use of medicine to reduce the cases of infections of the urinary tract, following which the percentage of woman going into premature labor was reduced by 30%. Incorrect

eight years ago fact is irrelevant

E. Women throughout the world, including those in Country X, go into premature labor, inevitably resulting in a certain percentage of still births. Irrelevant

hey someone please provide rationale for option A , why A is incorrect and why Option C is correct

Medical expert's claim is that the reduction of 35% in cases of premature labor is directly connected to the clinical check ups.

A tells us that the purpose of those clinical check ups were to identify PND cases and not for premature labor prevention . But it is perfectly possible that as an indirect result of those check ups, the doctors were able to identify PL cases, consequently, leading to reduction in such cases.

(I chose A because I confused the words 'directly connected to' in the conclusion, which I have mentioned above, with 'is a direct result of'. )

Where as C tell us that another event, the end of war, happened at the same time these check ups were started. The statement goes on further to explain that women in war zones tend to go into early labor (maybe it was the anxiety or lack of nutrition that was causing the premature labor), so it is quite possible that once the war ended the women stopped going into early labor. Now, we have an alternate possibility for why there was a reduction in premature labor cases and that makes us believe a little less in the expert's claim that those medical check ups led to the reduction.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

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