title: Demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of maternity patients: a Canadian clinical cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of a representative Canadian obstetrical population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-year cohort study of all maternity patients who were followed to delivery, using detailed patient questionnaires containing more than 60 demographic and clinical variables, and three microbiological evaluations during gestation - first trimester, 26 to 30 weeks, and labour and delivery. Outcome measurements included birth weight and gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Labour and delivery suites of all office obstetrical practices affiliated with a single hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of pregnant women in the study practices during one year were eligible for enrolment; 2237 consecutive patients were approached for consent, 2047 enrolled and 1811 completed the study through delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average patient was white, married and 29 years of age. Slightly more than half of the patients had postsecondary education, but 10% fell below the national poverty line for income. Frequency of factors linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes included cigarette smoking (19%), alcohol ingestion (18%), previously having had a premature infant (7%), and maternal diabetes (2%). Overall prevalence of genital microbes variously implicated in prematurity was 37% for ureaplasma, 11% for group B streptococcus and 4% for Mycoplasma hominis. Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 14%. The median gestational age for the cohort was 39 weeks, with 7% of infants born less than 37 weeks' gestation. Mean birth weight was 3415 g.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present clinical cohort represents demographic and medical characteristics of the Canadian obstetrical population. The birth outcomes are consistent with national data. This database provides valuable information about a general obstetrical population that is managed by a universal health care system.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. wmwenman@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Wanda M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wenman
authors.forename: Ivanna V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Tataryn
authors.forename: Michel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Joffres
authors.forename: Rachelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Michael Ga
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Albritton
authors.forename: Errol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prasad