Maternal risk factors associated with the birth of preterm infants in the West of Iran: a matched case-control study

BackgroundPreterm birth is one of the global most common causes of mortality among infants, especially in developing countries. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the maternal risk factors related to the birth of preterm infants.MethodsThe present case-control study was conducted on 220 premature infants as the case group and 440 term infants as the control group in the hospitals of Khorram Abad, Iran, in 2023. Two groups were matched in terms of gender and date of birth. Data were gathered by the researcher using a researcher-made questionnaire, interviewing the mothers and physicians, and reviewing mothers' medical files in maternity and postpartum wards. Data were analyzed using Stata 17 software and descriptive statistics and conditional logistic regression test at the significance level of less than 0.05.ResultsIn multivariable analysis adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was estimated, mother's employment (AOR: 2.85; 95%CI:1.05-7.77), history of abortion (AOR: 2.04; 95%CI: 1.10-3.78), sexual activity from 32nd to 36.6th week of pregnancy (AOR: 0.33; 95%CI: 0.20-0.54), pre-eclampsia (AOR: 11.09; 95%CI: 4.5-27.39), premature rupture of membrane (AOR: 6.76; 95%CI; 3.7-12.34) and placental abruption (AOR: 16.07; 95%CI: 5.45-47.39) were significantly associated with preterm birth of infants. No significant relation was observed between mother's age, assisted reproductive treatment, cervical insufficiency, and the number of received prenatal cares at the health centers and the birth of premature infants.ConclusionAccording to the results of the study, factors such as a mother's employment, history of abortion, pre-eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and placental abruption can affect the birth of premature infants. Therefore, the control of maternal factors influential in the birth of premature infants, as well as care during pregnancy, can reduce the occurrence of premature births, followed by the reduction of healthcare costs and infant mortality and the improvement of the youth level of the population.