Preterm Birth: Analysis of Risk Factors and Neonatal Outcome

Objective: To identify different associated risk factors and to assess the neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm births. Study design: It is a retrospective observational study conducted in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics in our hospital for a period of 5 years from January 2008 to January 2013. Results: The incidence of preterm birth is found to be 10.23%. When we looked at the onset of preterm labour, it is found that incidence of spontaneous preterm labour is 56.05%, Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes is 21.82% and iatrogenic preterm birth is 22.1%. It is found that the most common risk factor associated with preterm births is first trimester bleeding, amounting to 40% of total preterm births. On analyzing the neonatal outcome, hyperbilirubenimia is seen in 80% of the babies born between 28-32 weeks of gestation and Hyaline Membrane Disease in 49% of them. Overall neonatal mortality in our study is 20.48%, of which maximum (45.53%) is between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy. Conclusion: Mostly, the risk factors of preterm births are modifiable and hence preventable. Therefore, preconceptional counseling has a great role to play in bringing down the incidence of preterm labour.