Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2025

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

11.8K

Social, economic, and health indexes affecting epidemiology of preterm birth: A cross-sectional study

Shayan Mostafaei1, Alireza A Shamshirsaz2, Amir H Norooznezhad3

  • 1Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden.

Health Science Reports
|December 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Economic, developmental, and health factors significantly influence preterm birth (PTB) rates globally. Understanding these factors, like prenatal care access, is crucial for accurate PTB epidemiology studies.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health Policy

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of newborn morbidity and mortality worldwide.
  • Socioeconomic, developmental, and health factors are hypothesized to influence PTB prevalence.
  • Accurate PTB epidemiology requires understanding these potential confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of economic, human developmental, and health indexes on PTB prevalence.
  • To identify key factors associated with high and low PTB rates across countries.

Main Methods:

  • Extracted data for top 10 highest and lowest PTB prevalence countries from the Global Burden of Disease report.
  • Collected economic (income, GDP per capita), health (maternal mortality, prenatal care), and developmental (HDI) indexes from World Bank and UN.
  • Analyzed data using truncated Bayesian linear regression, decision trees, and k-means clustering.

Main Results:

  • Pregnancy Prenatal Care Rate significantly impacts PTB rates in high-prevalence countries.
  • Maternal mortality rate, human developmental index rank, and prenatal care rate affect PTB in low-prevalence countries.
  • Clustering based on socioeconomic, developmental, and health indexes closely mirrored PTB rate-based clustering (Rand index = 0.823).

Conclusions:

  • Epidemiological studies of PTB must account for socioeconomic, developmental, and health confounders.
  • These factors are critical for accurate global and nation-based PTB prevalence assessments.
  • Identifying these influences can inform targeted public health interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
health indexesmachine‐learningpregnancypreterm birthsocioeconomic indexes

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.0K
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

8.2K

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Epidemiology01:26

Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiology, known as the cornerstone of public health, involves studying the distribution and determinants of health-related events in defined populations and applying these insights to control health issues. This is essential for understanding how diseases spread, identifying populations at greater risk, and implementing measures to control or prevent outbreaks. Epidemiology addresses not only infectious diseases but also non-communicable conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease,...
740
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
550
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data01:25

Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data

Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods:
371
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.5K
Confounding in Epidemiological Studies01:27

Confounding in Epidemiological Studies

Confounding in statistical epidemiology represents a pivotal challenge, referring to the distortion in the perceived relationship between an exposure and an outcome due to the presence of a third variable, known as a confounder. This variable is associated with both the exposure and the outcome but is not a direct link in their causal chain. Its presence can lead to erroneous interpretations of the exposure's effect, either exaggerating or underestimating the true association. This...
170