Open AccessRisk factors associated with preterm birth in the Gaza Strip: hospital-based case-control study
Author(s) -
Kh Abu Hamad,
Yacine Abed,
Bashir Hamad
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2007.13.5.1132
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , low birth weight , pregnancy , gaza strip , birth weight , premature birth , pediatrics , gestational age , palestine , history , ancient history , genetics , biology
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.