Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jun;149(3):359-369.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13143. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Association of socioeconomic status and clinical and demographic conditions with the prevalence of preterm birth

Lucy T Brink  1 , Daan G Nel  2 , David R Hall  1 , Hein J Odendaal  1
Affiliations

Association of socioeconomic status and clinical and demographic conditions with the prevalence of preterm birth

Lucy T Brink et al. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of socioeconomic and demographic conditions on the prevalence of preterm birth in a local community.

Methods: Pregnant women (aged ≥16 years) willing to provide informed consent in one of the two languages of the community were recruited in South Africa between August 2007 and January 2015. Specifically designed case report forms collected information and measurements prospectively.

Results: After reviewing the medical records of 5806 women, it was possible to identify those who had spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), induced preterm birth (IPTB), or spontaneous term birth (STB). Women with IPTB (vs SPTB) were more obese and had higher education levels and household incomes; more had telephones and running water at home. They enrolled earlier and more developed hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Women with SPTB (vs STB) were less obese, shorter, had smaller arm circumferences and higher gravidities and Edinburgh Depression Scores, lower education, fewer telephones, and less running water at home. More women with SPTB used methamphetamine, cigarettes, and were heavier smokers.

Conclusion: SPTB and IPTB should not be conflated. Programs to reduce the high prevalence of SPTB should include improving education, lifestyle, and socioeconomic conditions. Addressing hypertension should help reduce preterm inductions.

Keywords: Induced preterm birth; Pregnancy; Small for gestational age infants; Socioeconomic status; Spontaneous preterm birth; Spontaneous term birth.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Brink LT, Gebhardt GS, Mason D, Groenewald CA, Odendaal HJ. The association between preterm labour, perinatal mortality and infant death (during the first year) in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town, South Africa. South African Med J. 2019;109(2):102. - PubMed
    1. Howson Eds CP, Kinney JLWHOG MV. Born too soon. Born Too Soon, Glob Action Rep Preterm Birth Eds CP Howson, MV Kinney, JE Lawn World Heal Organ Geneva [Internet]. 2012;13(5):1–126. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23911366
    1. Odendaal HJ, Dukes K, Elliott A. Stillbirth and Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Cigarettes GLASGOW ABSTRACT, 2018 International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS, and Baby Survival, Glasgow, Scotland; 7–9 June 2018.
    1. Rhoda N, Velaphi S, Gebhardt GS, Kauchali S, Barron P. Reducing neonatal deaths in South Africa: Progress and challenges. South African Med J. 2018;108(3a):9.
    1. Joseph KS, Mb RML, Dodds L, Dahlgren L, Allen AC. R esearch Socioeconomic status and perinatal outcomes in a setting. C Can Med Assoc J = J l’Association medicale Can. 2007;177(6):3–10. - PMC - PubMed