Maternal vitamin D level in preterm and term labouras a risk factor

ABSTRACT

Background: Preterm birth constitutes 5-18% of all deliveries and very low birth weight infants comprise 4-8% of all live births. Significant advances in neonatal care have increased the survival rate of premature infants. However, the associated morbidity continues to affect these infants despite the increased survival rate. Preterm birth is the most important problem in modern obstetrics. More than 1 million infants born preterm [at less than 37 weeks of gestation] died worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years