Study of risk factors for preterm births in a teaching hospital: A prospective study

Introduction Preterm birth is defined as gestational age at birth of less than 37 completed weeks or 259 days. The lower limit varies in different countries: as per WHO the lower limit is 22 weeks and 500 grams. Preterm infant is further classified into three main categories: late preterm infant (infant born between 34-36 weeks), moderately preterm infant (infant born between 32-34 completed weeks) and very preterm infant (infant born before 32 completed weeks of gestation). Preterm birth is a major determinant of neonatal mortality, morbidity and childhood disability. Preterm birth remains one of the most serious obstetric problems. Preterm birth is recognized as a worldwide problem responsible for most of the neonatal deaths and a vast majority of neonatal morbidity in the surviving infants. [1,2] The incidence of preterm birth is relatively constant for the past three decades and there are worrying trends that it is on the rise. Factors possibly contributing to but not completely explaining this upward trend include increasing rates of multiple births, greater use of assisted reproductive techniques, increases in the proportion of births among women over 34 years of age and changes in clinical practices, such as greater use of elective caesarean sections. Rates of preterm birth have been reported to range from 5-7% of all live births in some developed countries and are estimated to be substansially higher in developing countries. [3] The children who are born prematurely have higher rates of cerebral palsy, sensory deficits, learning disabilities and respiratory diseases compared with children born at term. The morbidity associated with preterm birth often extends to later life resulting in Dr Amita Mahajan MBBS, MD Associate professor Dr Shally Magon MBBS, MD Professor [email protected] Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences Jalandhar, Punjab, India