Contributors to Preterm Birth: Data from a Single Polish Perinatal Center

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Sociology
• Perinatology

Background:

• Preterm birth is a complex issue influenced by maternal age, health, obstetric history, and social factors.
• Recent shifts in reproductive patterns necessitate examining new social and environmental influences on preterm birth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sociodemographic, economic, and health-related factors contributing to preterm birth.
• To investigate the impact of new social and environmental changes on preterm birth rates.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 495 mother-infant pairs.
• Data collected via maternal self-reporting using a custom questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis using Pearson's Chi-squared test (significance level p=0.05).

Main Results:

• Preterm births were associated with mothers in villages (p < 0.001) and lower education levels (p = 0.01).
• Mothers running businesses (p = 0.031) and those with pregestational diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05) had higher rates of prematurity.
• Hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were common pregnancy complications.

Conclusions:

• Lower education, rural residence, professional activity, and pregestational diabetes mellitus are significant risk factors for preterm birth.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions to reduce prematurity.
• Further research into evolving social and environmental impacts on reproductive health is warranted.