No decline in preterm birth rate over three decades.
Low socioeconomic status has been associated with risk of preterm delivery. During the past 30 years, Taiwan has had tremendous economic growth and people have attained higher levels of education and living. It is thus not unreasonable to presume that the rate of preterm delivery would decline in response to these changes. The birth registry of Tri-Service General Hospital from 1957 to 1987 was reviewed. The rate of preterm delivery remained stable over the past 30 years, unaffected by these country-wide social changes.
Yan
J S
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
Yin
C S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology