Factors Associated With Preterm Births ? Hospital Based Observational Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To know the risk factors in mother responsible for preterm birth and compare to factors in term. Preterm birth is a major concern worldwide. Globally, Preterm Birth is the major cause of neonatal deaths. Approximately 12.9 million babies are born before completed 37 weeks of gestational age worldwide every year, representing an incidence of PTB between 5-25 %. Twenty eight percent of all 4 million annual neonatal deaths are directly attributable to PTB.1 MATERIAL AND METHODS Present study was conducted with 100 term and 100 preterm neonate over a period of one year and nine months in Department of Pediatrics at Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana to know the various risk factors associated with preterm births. RESULTS One hundred term and 100 preterm neonate were studied with total 44 risk factors out of which 21 were found to be associated with preterm birth. CONCLUSION Risk factors for preterm birth were Multiple fetus in pregnancy, previous Abortion, polyhydramnios, previous preterm birth, preeclampsia, cervical incompetence, recurrent abortion, antepartum hemorrhage, bacterial vaginosis, leaking per vaginum, high vaginal swab positive, placental membrane culture positive for bacteria, hematocrit less than32gm, anemia, short interpregnancy interval, assisted reproductive technique, underweight mother, low education status, fever in mother in pregnancy, UTI in pregnancy.