ABSTRACT
Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and long-term morbidity as well as the long-term health consequences and cognitive outcomes. Present study was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors associated with preterm birth in Ardabil, Iran. A case control study was conducted between Nov 2010 and July 2011 in all three maternal hospitals in Ardabil. All the live newborns during the study period were investigated. Of 6705 live births during the study period 346 births occurred in <37 weeks were taken as a case and 589 term neonates were taken as a control group. Data were obtained through review of prenatal and hospital delivery records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to obtain magnitude of association between independent variables and preterm birth. The prevalence rate of preterm birth was 5.1%. History of previous preterm birth [OR=12.7,CI: 3.9-40.4, p<0.001], hypertension [OR=7.3, CI:2.1-25.4, p=0.002], Oligohydramnios [OR=3.9, CI:1.6-9.5, p=0.002], spouse abuse [OR=3.7, CI:1.1-11.8, p=0.024], preeclampsia [OR=3.6, CI:1.3-10.3, p=0.014], premature rupture of membrane [OR=3.1, CI:1.9-4.9, p=0.000], bleeding or spotting during pregnancy [OR=2.0, CI:1.0-3.8, p=0.037], Hyperemesis Gravid arum [OR=2.0, CI: 1.1-3.8, p=0.015], urinary tract infection in 26-30 weeks, [OR=1. 8 CI:1.0-3.2, p=0.04], diastolic blood pressure
ABSTRACT
Introduction Low birth weight [LBW] is the most common cause of neonatal death in developing countries. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with low birth weight in Ardabil, Iran from 2010 to 2011. In a case-control study all live newborns were weighted without clothing using a standard calibrated scale. Gestational age was calculated using either the first day of the last normal menstrual period or estimated by obstetric sonography. 358 neonates with birth weight of less than 2500 g were considered as case and 705 normal weight neonates as control groups. Data were collected through a self-designed questionnaire from review of prenatal and hospital delivery records. Kruskal -wallis, chi-square, and logistic regression were applied to analyze data using SPSS version 16. Incidence of LBW was 6.3% and among these, 84.2% were preterm and 15.8% had intrauterine growth retardation. Hypertension [OR:8.64, CI: 2.63-28.31], multiple pregnancy [OR: 7.62, CI:3.09-13.32], leakage [OR:4.46, CI: 2.11-9.42], Oligohydramnios [OR:4.28, CI:1.90-9.76],history of preterm birth [OR:2.84, CI: 1.20-6.71], bleeding or spotting during pregnancy [OR:2.36,CI:1.41-3.95] were determined as important risk factors for preterm LBW. Risk of low birth weight in term infants increased by multiple pregnancy [OR:3.77, CI: 1.41-10.0], bleeding and spotting [OR:2.23, CI:1.22- 4.07],and urinary tract infection in weeks 26-30 of pregnancy [OR:2.42, CI :1.11-5.26]. Delivering quality health care for all pregnant women and early diagnosis and control of hypertension, urinary tract infection, and bleeding or spotting and leakage during pregnancy may significantly reduce the rate of low birth weight and improve public health in this area