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A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Is friday the busiest for late preterm delivery?
Sara Mola1, Janet E Graeber, Mark J Polak
1West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
The West Virginia Medical Journal
|July 12, 2011
Summary
Infants born between 33-37 weeks gestational age (GA) show a notable delivery pattern, with a higher incidence on Fridays. This trend may indicate specific delivery practices influencing premature births and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Perinatal Medicine
- Obstetrics
- Public Health
Background:
- A Level III-C Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in north central West Virginia observed a high admission rate of infants with gestational age (GA) between 33-37 weeks occurring on Fridays.
- This observation prompted an investigation into the distribution of delivery days for this specific infant population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of delivery days for infants with gestational age (GA) between 33-37 weeks.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for infants admitted between January 2002 and September 2006.
- Comparison of delivery occurrences by day of the week (DOW) for infants with GA 33-37 weeks.
Main Results:
- A total of 1471 infant admissions were analyzed.
- The highest rate of delivery occurred on Fridays, with the lowest on Sundays.
- Infants with GA 33-35 weeks showed an unequal DOW distribution with a peak on Wednesdays, while infants with GA 36-37 weeks had the most frequent deliveries on Fridays.
Conclusions:
- A distinct "Friday delivery phenomenon" was observed in infants with GA 33-37 weeks.
- This pattern suggests that delivery practices may influence the timing of premature births.
- Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for addressing premature delivery, associated morbidities, and NICU occupancy rates.
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