Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Trends in Preterm Births in Italy and Maternal Risk Factors in 2018-2022-A Registry-Based Study
Franca Rusconi1, Martina Pacifici2, Anna Maria Nannavecchia3
1Department of Mother and Child Health, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 56121 Pisa, Italy.
Background:
Nationwide studies described a reduction in preterm birth (PTB) during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, but this was not confirmed in others. Very few data are available on the trend of PTBs over a longer period, including the post-pandemic period, and on potential risk factors, especially those associated with social disparities.
Objective:
To investigate the trend in PTB rates and the influence of maternal risk factors in Italy from January 2018 to December 2022, based on 12 Regional Birth Registries covering 86.1% of Italian births.
Methods:
PTB trend was investigated by an interrupted time series analysis. We assessed the associations of potential risk factors with PTB (Poisson regressions) and calculated their population impact fractions (PIFs).
Results:
We studied 1,762,422 births; 7.25% were PTB. Before the pandemic, we observed a monthly decrease in PTB rate [-0.2% (95% CI: -0.3; -0.1)]; from July 2020 onwards, the average monthly level of PTBs was 5% lower than before (95% CI: -7.3; -2.7), with a flat trend until December 2022 [-0.02% (95% CI: -0.5; 0.5)]. Socio-economic maternal risk factors (low education, unemployment) and foreign nationality, whose risk ratios were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.04; 1.24), 1.08 (1.05; 1.12), and 1.17 (1.14; 1.21), respectively, showed a decreasing trend after pandemic; their impact on the decrease in PTBs was modest (PIFs between -2.4‱ and -4.2‱).
Conclusions:
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the pattern of PTB rates in Italy, lowering their average frequency and interrupting a previous decreasing trend. Changes in the trend of socio-economic maternal risk factors marginally explained this pattern.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regression Toward the Mean
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
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...
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Relative Risk
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Development of the Oral Microbiota

