title: Preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes: association with sociodemographic factors and maternal genitourinary infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  this study aimed to investigate the incidence of premature rupture of fetal membranes in preterm singleton pregnancies and its association with sociodemographic factors and maternal self-reported genitourinary infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  this was a population-based cross-sectional study, which included all mothers of newborns of singleton deliveries that occurred in 2010, with birth weight ≥ 500 grams, who resided in the city of Rio Grande. Women were interviewed in the two maternity hospitals. Cases were women who had lost amniotic fluid before hospitalization and whose gestational age was less than 37 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed by levels to control for confounding factors using Poisson regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of the 2,244 women eligible for the study, 3.1% had preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes, which was more frequent, after adjustment, in women of lower socioeconomic status, (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.94), with lower level of schooling (PR=2.43), age > 29 years (PR=2.49), and smokers (PR=2.04). It was also associated with threatened miscarriage (PR=1.68) and preterm labor, (PR=3.40). There was no association with maternal urinary tract infection or presence of genital discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the outcome was more common in puerperal women with lower level of schooling, lower socioeconomic status, older, and smokers, as well as those with a history of threatened miscarriage and premature labor. These factors should be considered in the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy approach.
authors.affiliation: Post-graduation program in Health and Behaviour, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: arnildo@vetorial.net.
authors.forename: Arnildo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hackenhaar
authors.affiliation: Post-graduation program in Health and Behaviour, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Albernaz
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tânia M V
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Condições sociais; Doenças urogenitais femininas; Female urogenital disorders; Idade materna; Maternal age; Premature; Premature rupture of fetal membranes; Prematuro; Ruptura prematura de membranas fetais; Social conditions