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The epidemiologic characteristics and associated risk factors of preterm birth from 2004 to 2013 in Taiwan

Yu-Kang Chang1, Yuan-Tsung Tseng2, Kow-Tong Chen3,4

  • 1Department of Radiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
|April 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The preterm birth rate in Taiwan increased significantly from 2004 to 2013. Key risk factors include advanced maternal age, multiple pregnancies, and prior preterm birth history, necessitating targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Global increase in preterm birth rates observed.
  • Preterm infants face heightened risks for CNS, respiratory, and gastrointestinal complications.
  • Understanding regional trends and risk factors is crucial for intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of preterm birth in Taiwan.
  • To identify associated risk factors contributing to preterm birth in the Taiwanese population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the National Health Insurance Research (NHIR) database for obstetric data.
  • Included all live births in Taiwan between 2004 and 2013.
  • Employed multiple logistic regression analyses to determine risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Total of 130,362 live births analyzed from 2004-2013.
  • Annual preterm birth rate rose from 3.33% to 5.11% (5.3% increase).
  • Identified nulliparity, multifetal pregnancy, advanced maternal age, previous preterm birth, drug abuse, and medical complications as significant risk factors (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Taiwan experienced a notable increase in preterm birth proportion from 2004 to 2013.
  • Preterm birth is associated with increased infant morbidity and mortality.
  • A comprehensive program is needed to identify high-risk pregnancies for effective prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
EpidemiologyIndicated preterm birthPreterm birthSpontaneous

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