Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

13.5K

A cohort study on risk factors for preterm births in rural Gujarat

Poonam Trivedi1, Deepak Saxena2, Tapasvi Puwar3

  • 1Senior Research Assistant, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

Indian Journal of Public Health
|June 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth (PTB) affects infant mortality globally. This study identified periodontal disease, longer sleep duration, and sexual activity during pregnancy as significant risk factors for PTB in India.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Public Health Research

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of neonatal and under-five mortality in India and globally.
  • PTB contributes to significant short- and long-term infant morbidities.
  • Many PTB risk factors remain unexplained, necessitating community-based research in high-burden regions like India.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and identify various risk factors associated with preterm birth (PTB).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1977 antenatal mothers was enrolled and followed in Gujarat, India.
  • Data on pregnancy outcomes and potential risk factors were collected using structured questionnaires.
  • A hierarchical regression model was employed to analyze risk factors for PTB.

Main Results:

  • The study observed a 9% proportion of preterm births (PTBs) within the enrolled cohort.
  • Significant risk factors identified included periodontal disease, prolonged sleep duration, and sexual activity during any trimester.
  • These findings highlight specific, modifiable factors contributing to PTB.

Conclusions:

  • There is an urgent need for enhanced, evidence-based interventions to prevent PTB.
  • Routine antenatal care should include screening for oral hygiene due to the link with PTB.
  • Promoting good oral hygiene practices for pregnant women is recommended.
Abstract

Keywords:
Antenatal carecohort studypreterm birthsrisk factorsrural

More Related Videos

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies10:11

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies

Published on: October 22, 2014

19.7K
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

536

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.7K
Birth Control Methods01:22

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
6.8K
Relative Risk01:12

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
2.2K
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
82.8K
Factors Affecting Solubility04:01

Factors Affecting Solubility

Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
37.2K
Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
14.0K