Open AccessMaternal risk factors for preterm birth and low birthweight in Cape Verde
Author(s) -
Wessel Hans,
Cnattingius Sven,
Bergstrom Staffan,
Dupret Alice,
Reitmaier Pitt
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349609033332
Subject(s) - medicine , cape verde , obstetrics , pregnancy , relative risk , low birth weight , cohort study , cohort , pediatrics , gestational age , birth weight , logistic regression , confidence interval , history , ethnology , genetics , pathology , biology
Background. Fifteen years after the implementation of an antenatal risk screening program in Cape Verde, the first assessment of an association between maternal obstetric characteristics and preterm birth or low birthweight (LBW) infants was undertaken. Methods. A cohort of 353 systematically selected antenatal clinic attenders in the county of Praia. Cape Verde, was studied prospectively during the period October 1991 through December 1992, The cohort was followed past the perinatal period and information was obtained according to a pretested structured questionnaire. In the analysis of preterm birth and LBW, multiple logistic regression was listed to estimate the relative risks of 11 background variables. Results. The prevalence of preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks) was 12%, and the prevalence of LBW infants was 8%. Low birthweight (<2500 grams) was significantly associated with low maternal age (<19 years. RR=3.7); nulliparity (RR=5.2) and obstetric history of previous LBW infant (RR=6.5). The risk for preterm birth was significantly increased if the woman had an obstetric history of hypertension or convulsions (RR=2.6). Conclusions. In the setting studied, teenage women and women with previous pregnancy hypertension should be given selective attention in antenatal care to achieve improved pregnancy outcome. Primary prevention is needed to lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancies.