Pattern of growth development of premature children at the age of two and three years in Alexandria, Egypt [Part II]

ABSTRACT

This is the second part of a paper on a study conducted in Alexandria on 68 premature children. Controls were full-term children, double the number of prematures, and matched by age and sex. The first part presented differences in growth and development in relation to prematurity. This part deals with risk factors for prematurity. The study revealed that low educational level of fathers and parental smoking were significant risk factors for prematurity. The mean age of both parents and mothers' gravidity were significantly higher for prematures. Other risk factors were identified. Mothers with diabetes and chronic nephritis were more likely to have a premature child