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DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijog.2321.1636.6218.18

Abstract

Background: Preterm births are the major cause of perinatal and neonatal morbidity and it represents one of the principal targets for obstetric health care. Aim of this study is to identify etiological factors and to assess the outcome with preterm labor and delivery. Methods: This study is conducted in the department of obstretics and gynaecology of a tertiary care center during the period of 3 years between 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2017. Patients presenting between 28 and 37 completed weeks with preterm labour were included in this study. Patients were subjected to detailed history with respect to age, parity, previous pregnancy outcome and to identify the presence of any risk factor in this pregnancy. A through obstetrics and systemic examination was done. Results: Incidence of preterm labour is found to be 23.06%. Highest incidence was found between the age group of 20 to 29 year (69%). The study shows that 31% patients had history of previous one abortion, 5% had previous two abortions, 2% had previous three abortion and 14% had previous one PTVD. This shows that total 38% patients were having history of previous abortions. Highest number of preterm labour were late preterm that is after 34weeks but before 37 completed weeks constituting about 64.34%. Most common risk factor was found to be PPROM constituting 29%. 2^nd most common being Preeclampsia/ Eclampsia accounting for 26%, UTI in 10% followed by APH in 8%. Study shows that 73% of wo men had vaginal delivery, 27% of wo men underwent ceserean section. Our study shows that 6.55% babies have birth weight <1000gm, 25.23% were having weight between 10001500gm, 37.38% had weight between 15002000gm and 30.84% had birth weight more than 2000gms. Our study shows that 78 (72.89%) neonates required neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and the most common neonatal complications noted were jaundice in 34 (31.77%) neonates, followed by asphyxia 21 (19.62%) and RDS seen in 12 (11.21%) neonates. Conclusion: Various risk factors that lead to preterm labor are identifiable. The recognition of risk factors for preterm labour constitutes a part of basic prenatal care. Most etiological factors are modifiable and preconception counselling should emphasize and address these issues.

Keywords: Preterm Labour; Etiology; Risk Factor. 

Corresponding Author : Nalini Anand, Professor & Head of Department, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shri M.P. Shah Medical College Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361008, India.