title: Risk factors for preterm birth in five Maternal and Child Health hospitals in Beijing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm birth, the birth of an infant prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Preterm infants are at greater risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological diseases. Despite significant research in developed countries, little is known about the causes of preterm birth in many developing countries, especially China. This study investigates the association between sciodemographic data, obstetric risk factor, and preterm birth in five Maternal and Child Health hospitals in Beijing, China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A case-control study was conducted on 1391 women with preterm birth (case group) and 1391 women with term delivery (control group), who were interviewed within 48 hours of delivery. Sixteen potential factors were investigated and statistical analysis was performed by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. Univariate analysis showed that 14 of the 16 factors were associated with preterm birth. Inter-pregnancy interval and inherited diseases were not risk factors. Logistic regression analysis showed that obesity (odds ratio (OR) = 3.030, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.166-7.869), stressful life events (OR = 5.535, 95%CI 2.315-13.231), sexual activity (OR = 1.674, 95%CI 1.279-2.191), placenta previa (OR 13.577, 95%CI 2.563-71.912), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.441, 95%CI1.694-6.991), hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (OR = 6.034, 95%CI = 3.401-10.704), history of preterm birth (OR = 20.888, 95%CI 2.519-173.218) and reproductive abnormalities (OR = 3.049, 95%CI 1.010-9.206) were independent risk factors. Women who lived in towns and cities (OR = 0.603, 95%CI 0.430-0.846), had a balanced diet (OR = 0.533, 95%CI 0.421-0.675) and had a record of prenatal care (OR = 0.261, 95%CI 0.134-0.510) were less likely to have preterm birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity, stressful life events, sexual activity, placenta previa, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, history of preterm birth and reproductive abnormalities are independent risk factors to preterm birth. Identification of remedial factors may inform local health and education policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China. ypzhang7090@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yun-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Su-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jia-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yue-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jiu-Yue
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qing-Xia
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010923:Placenta Previa; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult