title: Risk factors associated with preterm birth in the Gaza Strip: hospital-based case-control study.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the main maternal risk factors associated with preterm birth in the Gaza Strip. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out at El-Shifa and Khan-Younis hospitals with 200 women with preterm births and 200 control women. Significant risk factors for preterm birth were: maternal age > or = 35 years, being a refugee, inadequate antenatal care, failure to gain adequate weight during pregnancy and previous history of preterm birth. Other significant risk factors included: short stature, short interval between the last 2 pregnancies, presence of congenital gynaecological abnormalities, previous history of caesarean delivery and previous history of stillbirth.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine. khitam_hamad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kh
authors.initials: Kh
authors.lastname: Abu Hamad
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abed
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abu Hamad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001721:Birth Intervals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001827:Body Height; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000002:abnormalities; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017584:Reproductive History; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain