Risk Factor of Preterm Labor in the West of Iran: A Case-Control Study

Background: Prematurity is the most common cause of neonatal death. Risk factors of premature birth can be related with ethnicity and genetic. There is no comprehensive high sample size study in Kurdish ethnicity to determine risk factors related to prematurity. This study evaluated risk factors of preterm labor in Kurdish ethnicity. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in 200 preterm infants (case group) and 400 term infants (control group), in Besat Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran, in the year 2012. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and analysis was performed by Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and logistic regression tests. Results: In univariate analysis, mother's own prematurity, history of previous preterm labor, prematurity in the first-degree family members, history of dead children, premature rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancies, overt diabetes, chronic hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia, infertility and cervical incompetence had significant relationship with preterm labor. However, multivariate analysis results showed that abnormal amniotic fluid, premature rupture of membranes, double and multiple pregnancies, chronic hypertension, family history of premature birth, mothers age over 35 years, and cervical incompetence (P<0.05) had significant relationship with the premature birth. Conclusion: Screening of newborns at risk of preterm labor could be achieved by these risk factors: family history of prematurity, mother's own history of prematurity and previous preterm labor, history of previous neonatal death, decreased amniotic fluid, multiple pregnancies, overt diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, infertility and cervical incompetence, however some of these factors are not the direct cause of prematurity. Our study suggests genetic's role in preterm labor.