Abstract
The risk factors for premature birth were evaluated with an interval of 20 years. The study population comprises two one-year cohorts of parturients (n=21430) and births (n = 21710) for years 1966 and 1966. the infants burn from multiple pregnancies, infants with unknown gestational age and the prematures delivered after elective caesarean section or induced labour were excluded, which leaves infants for the 1966 and 1985 for 1985/86 cohort. Among the 1966 cohort 9 % while among 1985/86. 72% of the mothers to 1966 had passed only elementary school, while in later 1985/86 cohort 28 %. The association of prematurity and different biological factors was studied using a logistic regression model and stratification with respect to sociodemographic factors. In both cohorts placental abnormalities, vaginal bleeding, earlier low birth-weight baby and the most disadvantageous sociodemographic group were associated with prematurity. In 1966 also age under 20 and in 1985/86 cohort malformations, hypertensive disorders and smoking increased the risk of premature labour. The study showed that the incidence of prematurity has decreased by more than half over 20 years, the families social wellbeing has increased and that the effect of social factors on prematurity to less important. The biological factors are mainly are mainly the same and have the most important effect on the risk of the premturity.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jarvelin, MR., Olsen, P., Rantakallio, P. et al. PREMATURE BIRTH OVER 20 YEARS. Pediatr Res 35, 265 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00063
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00063