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Sociodemographic, behavioral, and obstetric factors associated with preterm birth and its severity: A matched

Lenos Mastrou1, Maria Kyprianidou1, Demetris Lamnisos1

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

European Journal of Midwifery
|July 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth (PTB) in Cyprus is linked to maternal age, gynecological surgeries, and prior cesarean sections. Primiparous women showed reduced PTB odds, while factors like BMI and asylum seeker status influenced extreme PTB risk.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity globally.
  • Cyprus exhibits high rates of PTB within Europe, necessitating localized research.
  • The multifactorial etiology of PTB requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sociodemographic, behavioral, and obstetric history factors associated with PTB in Cyprus.
  • To analyze how these factors vary with the degree of prematurity.
  • To provide population-specific evidence for PTB prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study involving 978 women (489 PTB cases, 489 controls) was conducted.
  • Data were collected from January 2019 to December 2022 at a tertiary referral hospital in Cyprus.
  • Conditional logistic regression and subgroup analyses were employed to identify risk and protective factors.

Main Results:

  • Increased PTB odds were associated with maternal age, previous gynecological surgeries, cesarean section, and miscarriage.
  • Primiparous women had lower odds of PTB compared to nulliparous women.
  • Higher BMI, prior cesarean, and asylum seeker status were linked to reduced odds of extreme PTB (<32 weeks).

Conclusions:

  • Sociodemographic, behavioral, and obstetric factors significantly influence PTB risk and degree of prematurity.
  • Observed associations require further investigation in prospective studies.
  • Findings can inform targeted interventions for PTB prevention in Cyprus.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cyprusmaternal risk factorsobstetric historypreterm birthsociodemographic determinants

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