Risk factors for preterm, low birthweight and small for gestational age births among Aboriginal women from remote communities in Northern Australia

Determinants and outcomes of preterm births in Nigerian tertiary facilities

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence, and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of data collected through the Maternal Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) Programme.

SETTING

Data from births in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020.

POPULATION

A total of 69 698 births.

METHODS

Multilevel modelling was used to determine the factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Preterm birth and preterm perinatal mortality.

RESULTS

Of 62 383 live births, 9547 were preterm (153 per 1000 live births). Maternal age (<20 years - adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.71; >35 years - aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30), no formal education (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.54-1.84), partner not gainfully employed (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61-2.34) and no antenatal care (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 2.42-2.84) were associated with preterm births. Early neonatal mortality for preterm neonates was 47.2 per 1000 preterm live births (451/9547). Father's occupation (manual labour aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.83), no antenatal care (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 2.04-3.67), earlier gestation (28 to <32 weeks - aOR 2.94, 95% CI 2.15-4.10; 32 to <34 weeks - aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.3-2.44) and birthweight <1000 g (aOR 21.35, 95% CI 12.54-36.33) were associated with preterm perinatal mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria are high. Efforts should be made to enhance access to quality health care during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period, and improve the parental socio-economic status.

A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of trends and risk factors for preterm birth in the Northern Territory, Australia

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) is the single most important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity in high income countries. In Australia, 8.6% of babies are born preterm but substantial variability exists between States and Territories. Previous reports suggest PTB rates are highest in the Northern Territory (NT), but comprehensive analysis of trends and risk factors are lacking in this region. The objective of this study was to characterise temporal trends in PTB among First Nations and non-First Nations mothers in the Top End of the NT over a 10-year period and to identify perinatal factors associated with the risk of PTB.

METHODS

This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of all births in the Top End of the NT over the 10-year period from January 1st, 2008, to December 31st, 2017. We described maternal characteristics, obstetric complications, birth characteristics and annual trends in PTB. The association between the characteristics and the risk of PTB was determined using univariate and multivariate generalised linear models producing crude risk ratios (cRR) and adjusted risk ratios (aRR). Data were analysed overall, in First Nations and non-First Nations women.

RESULTS

During the decade ending in 2017, annual rates of PTB in the Top End of the NT remained consistently close to 10% of all live births. However, First Nations women experienced more than twice the risk of PTB (16%) compared to other women (7%). Leading risk factors for PTB among First Nations women as compared to other women included premature rupture of membranes (RR 12.33; 95% CI 11.78, 12.90), multiple pregnancy (RR 7.24; 95% CI 6.68, 7.83), antepartum haemorrhage (RR 4.36; 95% CI 3.93, 4.84) and pre-existing diabetes (RR 4.18; 95% CI 3.67, 4.76).

CONCLUSIONS

First Nations women experience some of the highest PTB rates globally. Addressing specific pregnancy complications provides avenues for intervention, but the story is complex and deeper exploration is warranted. A holistic approach that also acknowledges the influence of socio-demographic influences, such as remote dwelling and disadvantage on disease burden, will be required to improve perinatal outcomes.

Time to initiation of antenatal care visit and its predictors among reproductive age women in Ethiopia: Gompertz inverse Gaussian shared frailty model

Background

Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) is essential for the early detection of pregnancy-related problems and unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. However, a significant number of mothers do not initiate ANC at the recommended time. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the median time of ANC initiation and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

Methods

We used the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016 data set. The proportional hazard assumption was assessed using Schoenfeld residual test and log-log plot. A life table was used to determine the median survival time (time of ANC initiation). The Gompertz inverse Gaussian shared frailty model was the best-fitting model for identifying the predictors for the early initiation of ANC booking. Finally, the adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the significance of predictors.

Results

A total of 7,501 reproductive-aged women gave recent birth in the last 5 years preceding the survey. Nearly three in five women [61.95% (95% CI: 60.85-63.04%)] booked their first ANC visit with a median time of 4.4 months. Women who attended primary education (AHR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20), secondary and above (AHR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11-1.44), media exposure (AHR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00-1.16), rich wealthy (AHR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06-1.30), grand multiparous (AHR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.93), unwanted pregnancy (AHR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.96), small periphery region (AHR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.51-0.67), and rural residence (AHR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75-0.99) were significantly associated with first ANC visit.

Conclusion

According to this study, a significant number of women missed their first ANC visit. The education status of women, place of residence, region, wealth index, media exposure, unintended pregnancy, and multi-parity were significantly associated with the time of initiation of the first ANC visit. Therefore, policymakers should focus on improving the socioeconomic status (education, media coverage, and wealth) of reproductive-aged women by prioritizing women who live in small periphery regions and rural residences to improve the early initiation of ANC.

Inequity of antenatal influenza and pertussis vaccine coverage in Australia: the Links2HealthierBubs record linkage cohort study, 2012-2017

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy and early infancy are increased risk periods for severe adverse effects of respiratory infections. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to as First Nations) women and children in Australia bear a disproportionately higher burden of respiratory diseases compared to non-Indigenous women and infants. Influenza vaccines and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines are recommended and free in every Australian pregnancy to combat these infections. We aimed to assess the equity of influenza and/or pertussis vaccination in pregnancy for three priority groups in Australia: First Nations women; women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds; and women living in remote areas or socio-economic disadvantage.

METHODS

We conducted individual record linkage of Perinatal Data Collections with immunisation registers/databases between 2012 and 2017. Analysis included generalised linear mixed model, log-binomial regression with a random intercept for the unique maternal identifier to account for clustering, presented as prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% compatibility intervals (95%CI).

RESULTS

There were 445,590 individual women in the final cohort. Compared with other Australian women (n = 322,848), First Nations women (n = 29,181) were less likely to have received both recommended antenatal vaccines (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.67-0.71) whereas women from CALD backgrounds (n = 93,561) were more likely to have (PR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.13). Women living in remote areas were less likely to have received both vaccines (PR 0.75, 95% CI 0.72-0.78), and women living in the highest areas of advantage were more likely to have received both vaccines (PR 1.44, 95% CI 1.40-1.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to other groups, First Nations Australian families, those living in remote areas and/or families from lower socio-economic backgrounds did not receive recommended vaccinations during pregnancy that are the benchmark of equitable healthcare. Addressing these barriers must remain a core priority for Australian health care systems and vaccine providers. An extension of this cohort is necessary to reassess these study findings.

Association of maternity formula supplementation during pregnancy with small for gestational age birth in Chinese newborns

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the association between maternity formula supplementation and small for gestational age (SGA) status in Chinese newborns.

METHODS

Data were from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in Shaanxi, Northwest China between August and December 2013. A total of 27 780 women pregnant with singletons and 356 with twins were included in this survey. Information on use of maternity formulas fortified with vitamins, folic acid, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was collected. SGA was defined as birthweight <10th percentile of fetal growth. Generalized linear models and estimating equation models were used to estimate crude odds ratios (ORs) or adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for SGA.

RESULTS

The rate of maternity formula supplementation during the entire pregnancy was 13.0% in the overall population. There was no significant association between maternal formula supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of total SGA birth (OR: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.90-1.11; P = 0.950). However, maternity formula supplementation during pregnancy was related to a lower risk of SGA for twins (OR: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.80; P = 0.004), twin A (OR: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.98; P = 0.045), and twin B (OR: 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.95; P = 0.034). Furthermore, maternity formula supplementation during the first trimester was inversely associated with the risk of SGA birth of twins (OR: 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15-0.65; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant association was observed between maternity formula supplementation and total SGA birth. However, women supplemented with maternal formula during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, may have a reduced risk of SGA birth of twins.

Prevalence and predictors of spontaneous preterm births in Nepal: findings from a prospective, population-based pregnancy cohort in rural Nepal-a secondary data analysis

OBJECTIVE

Preterm birth can have short-term and long-term complications for a child. Socioeconomic factors and pregnancy-related morbidities may be important to predict and prevent preterm births in low-resource settings. The objective of our study was to find prevalence and predictors of spontaneous preterm birth in rural Nepal.

DESIGN

This is a secondary observational analysis of trial data (registration number NCT01177111).

SETTING

Rural Sarlahi district, Nepal.

PARTICIPANTS

40 119 pregnant women enrolled from 9 September 2010 to 16 January 2017.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome variable is spontaneous preterm birth. Generalized Estimating Equations Poisson regression with robust variance was fitted to present effect estimates as risk ratios.

RESULT

The prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth was 14.5% (0.5% non-spontaneous). Characteristics not varying in pregnancy associated with increased risk of preterm birth were maternal age less than 18 years (adjusted risk ratio=1.13, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.26); being Muslim (1.53, 1.16 to 2.01); first pregnancy (1.15, 1.04 to 1.28); multiple births (4.91, 4.20 to 5.75) and male child (1.10, 1.02 to 1.17). Those associated with decreased risk were maternal education >5 years (0.81, 0.73 to 0.90); maternal height ≥150 cm (0.89, 0.81 to 0.98) and being from wealthier families (0.83, 0.74 to 0.93). Pregnancy-related morbidities associated with increased risk of preterm birth were vaginal bleeding (1.53, 1.08 to 2.18); swelling (1.37, 1.17 to 1.60); high systolic blood pressure (BP) (1.47, 1.08 to 2.01) and high diastolic BP (1.41, 1.17 to 1.70) in the third trimester. Those associated with decreased risk were respiratory problem in the third trimester (0.86, 0.79 to 0.94); having poor appetite, nausea and vomiting in the second trimester (0.86, 0.80 to 0.92) and third trimester (0.86, 0.79 to 0.94); and higher weight gain from second to third trimester (0.89, 0.87 to 0.90).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of preterm birth is high in rural Nepal. Interventions that increase maternal education may play a role. Monitoring morbidities during antenatal care to intervene to reduce them through an effective health system may help reduce preterm birth.

Preterm delivery and its associated factors among mothers in Bangladesh: survey in Rajshahi district

OBJECTIVES

Preterm delivery (PD) is a worldwide health burden particularly in low-income and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. It is a key indicator of neonatal mortality and a risk of morbidity in later life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PD and its associated factors among mothers in Northern region of Bangladesh.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Multistage sampling technique was used to select samples covering all the population from 9 Upazilas in Rajshahi district with 233 community clinics. A total of 540 mothers and their under-5 children were enrolled for the study. Descriptive statistics, χ² test and logistic regression model were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Among all live births, the prevalence of PD was found to be 14.6%. Multiple binary logistic regression model suggested five factors of PD: (1) mothers who used contraceptive pill had lower chance of PD (p<0.05); (2) mothers with high fever during pregnancy period were more likely to have PD (p<0.05); (3) mothers who did not receive antenatal care service less than four times during pregnancy period had higher chance of PD (p<0.01); (4) mothers first married before 18 years who were more likely to have PD (p<0.01); (5) PD delivered mothers had more chance to get low birth weight children (p<0.05). In addition, unadjusted model demonstrated that mothers delivered first baby before their age<20 years were more risk to get PD (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Approximately one in seven infants was born preterm in our study area. Family planning method, number of antenatal care visit, mothers' age at marriage and high fever during pregnancy were the most important predictors of PD, these factors could be considered to reduce PD among Bangladeshi mothers. PD risk could be reduced by counselling and encouraging women to take antenatal care facilities from trained health providers.

Incidence of Preterm Infants, Indications of Admission, Risk Factors, and Discharge Outcome: A Retrospective Study

Background:

Prematurity is still a major cause of neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity.

Aim:

This study aimed to describe the incidence of preterm infants, indications of admission, risk factors, and discharge outcome.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective, descriptive design was used. A sample of 692 preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was included. A structured sheet was used to gather the necessary data. It involved two parts: characteristics of preterm infants and their mothers and risk factors concerning preterm birth.

Results:

The study found that 49.4% of admitted neonates were preterm; among them, 48.1% died on discharge. Moreover, there were significant relations between the type of gestation (p=0.000), mothers' age (p=0.001), anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, premature rupture of membranes, obstructed labor, family history of medical diseases, and mothers' history of medical diseases with preterm infants' gestational age (p=0.01, 0.001, 0.02, 0.01, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Moreover, it was observed that higher admission of preterm infants who had respiratory problems, followed by gastrointestinal problems.

Conclusion:

There was a higher prevalence with a higher mortality rate of admitted preterm infants to NICU. Likewise, the type of gestation, mothers' age, presence of complications during pregnancy, bad obstetric history, and family and medical history of diseases were the most common risk factors of prematurity. Moreover, respiratory problems were the main etiology for admission of preterm infants to NICU. Therefore, early screening of diseases and obstetric complications during pregnancy is recommended.

Implications for Nursing Practice:

Providing educational programs for pediatric nurses will increase their level of awareness regarding incidence, indications, risk factors, and discharge outcome of prematurity, thus reducing the rate of mortality and morbidity among preterm infants.

Sociodemographic determinants of chronic kidney disease in Indigenous children

Rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are disproportionately increased in Indigenous peoples. The focus has traditionally been on adults, as they experience the highest rates of kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy. The impacts of colonization, systemic racism, and sociodemographic marginalization however impact the health of Indigenous peoples across the lifespan. This review presents the social context within which Indigenous children develop and the impact relevant to kidney health across the developmental stages. In utero exposures impact nephron endowment which can manifest in glomerular hyperfiltration and sclerosis as well as an increased risk of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Young children are at increased risk of autoimmune conditions, secondary to infectious and environmental exposures, and are also exposed to the impacts of a Western lifestyle manifesting early onset overweight/obesity. Adolescents begin to manifest more severe metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes. The impacts of early onset diabetes are associated with aggressive kidney complications and high rates of kidney failure in young adulthood. Finally, the key elements of successful prevention and treatment strategies are discussed including the importance of screening for asymptomatic, modifiable early disease, linked with clinical primary and tertiary care follow-up, and culturally relevant and safe care.

A better start to life: Risk factors for, and prevention of, preterm birth in Australian First Nations women - A narrative review

The unacceptable discrepancies in health outcomes between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians begin at birth. Preterm birth (birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is a major contributor to adverse short- and long-term health outcomes and mortality. Australian First Nations infants are more commonly born too early. No tangible reductions in preterm births have been made in First Nations communities. Factors contributing to high preterm birth rates in Australian First Nations infants are reviewed and interventions to reduce preterm birth in Australian First Nations women are discussed. More must be done to ensure Australian First Nations infants get a better start to life. This can only be achieved with ongoing and improved research in partnership with Australian First Nations peoples.

Sex Differences Are Here to Stay: Relevance to Prenatal Care

Sex differences exist in the incidence and presentation of many pregnancy complications, including but not limited to pregnancy loss, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Sex differences arise very early in development due to differential gene expression from the X and Y chromosomes, and later may also be influenced by the action of gonadal steroid hormones. Though offspring sex is not considered in most prenatal diagnostic or therapeutic strategies currently in use, it may be beneficial to consider sex differences and the associated mechanisms underlying pregnancy complications. This review will cover (i) the prevalence and presentation of sex differences that occur in perinatal complications, particularly with a focus on the placenta; (ii) possible mechanisms underlying the development of sex differences in placental function and pregnancy phenotypes; and (iii) knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the development of diagnostic or risk prediction tools for such complications, with an emphasis on those for which it would be important to consider sex.

Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Preterm Birth in the state of Qatar: A Population-based Study

Objectives:

To review the demographics and socioeconomic determinants of preterm birth (PTB) compared to term births among the Qatari population.

Methods:

This was a retrospective data analysis of 59,308 births. Data were retrieved from a Population-based Cohort Study. Data were gathered from the PEARL-Peristat maternal newborn registry for 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2018. We compared the preterm births group (delivery < 37 weeks) with the term group (delivery ≥ 37 weeks) regarding socioeconomic factors, including maternal nationality, religion, level of education, mother’s occupation, family income, housing, consanguinity, early childbearing, high-risk pregnancy, smoking, assisted conception, antenatal care, and place of delivery.

Results:

The prevalence of preterm birth was 9%. There were more Saudi nations in the preterm group compared to term (33% vs. 28%, p-value < 0.001). There were more preterm births than term births among working mothers (40% vs. 35%), high-risk pregnancies (24% vs. 18%), those that has used assisted conception (18% vs. 3%), those without antenatal care (11% vs. 5.6%), and those delivered in a tertiary women hospital (88.5% vs. 84.5%) (all p-values < 0.001). There were more women living in villas (41% vs. 38%, p = 0.01) and more smokers (0.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.030) in the preterm group than in the term group. There were no differences between the two groups regarding religion, level of maternal education, family income, and early childbearing.

Conclusion:

In our population, we identified several factors associated with preterm births. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients requiring aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy, compared to non-retrieved metropolitan cohorts

BACKGROUND

Limited access to obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) services in rural and remote Australia is believed to contribute to suboptimal birth outcomes.

AIMS

To describe the characteristics of pregnancy aeromedical transfers, in-hospital outcomes, and patient access to O&G services, as compared to whole of Australia data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of women who required aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy-related issues between the 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017.

RESULTS

Hospital outcome data were collected on 2171 (65.2%) mothers and 2438 (100.0%) babies. The leading retrieval reason was threatened preterm labour and delivery (n = 883; 40.7%). Most patients were retrieved from rural and remote areas (n = 2224; 93.0%). Retrieved patients were significantly younger (28.0 vs 30.0 years, 95% CI 27.7-28.3), more likely to be overweight or obese (52.2% vs 45.1%, 95% CI 47.5-56.9) and to have smoked during their pregnancy (14.0% vs 9.9%, 95% CI 12.5-15.5) compared to Australian pregnant women overall. Over one-third of transferred women gave birth by Caesarean section (n = 812; 37.4%); the median gestational age at birth was 33.0 (95% CI 32.7-33.3) weeks. Early gestation is associated with low birth weights (median = 2579.5 g; 95% CI 2536.1-2622.9), neonatal resuscitation (35.4%, 95% CI 33.5-37.3), and special care nursery admission (41.2%, 95% CI 39.3-43.2). There were 42 (1.7%, 95% CI 1.2-2.2) stillbirths, which was significantly higher than seen Australia-wide (n = 6441; 0.7%).

CONCLUSION

This study found that pregnant women retrieved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service were younger, with higher rates of obesity and smoking.

Baixo peso ao nascer, prematuridade e restrição de crescimento intra-uterino: resultados dos dados de base da primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil (coorte de nascimentos Guarani)

ABSTRATO

FUNDO: O baixo peso ao nascer (BPN) continua sendo um importante problema de saúde global, associado a uma série de resultados adversos de saúde ao longo da vida. As evidências sugerem que o BPN é um determinante relevante de morbidade e mortalidade em grupos indígenas, que geralmente têm acesso limitado às políticas públicas de saúde e nutrição. O conhecimento da prevalência de BPN e de suas causas subjacentes pode contribuir com etapas essenciais para a prevenção de seus efeitos sobre a saúde. O estudo teve como objetivo estimar as prevalências de BPN, prematuridade e restrição de crescimento intra-uterino (RCIU) e investigar seus determinantes na primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil. MéTODOS: Este estudo transversal utilizou dados de linha de base coletados da primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil, a Coorte de Nascimentos Guarani. O Brasil é um dos países com maior diversidade étnica do mundo, com 305 povos indígenas e 274 línguas nativas. Os Guarani são uma das cinco maiores etnias, com aldeias localizadas principalmente na região sul. Todos os nascimentos únicos de 1º de junho de 2014 a 31 de maio de 2016 foram selecionados em 63 aldeias indígenas Guarani nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Foi realizada regressão logística múltipla hierárquica.

RESULTADOS

As taxas de prevalência de BPN, prematuridade e RCIU foram 15,5, 15,6 e 5,7%, respectivamente. As chances de BPN foram menores em recém-nascidos de mães que vivem em casas de tijolo e argamassa (OR: 0,25; IC 95%: 0,07-0,84) e foram maiores em filhos de mães ≤20 anos de idade (OR: 2,4; IC 95%: 1,29-4,44) e com anemia crônica antes da gravidez (OR: 6,41; IC 95%: 1,70-24,16). A prematuridade foi estatisticamente associada ao tipo de fonte de energia para cozinhar (fogão a lenha - OR: 3,87; IC 95%: 1,71-8,78 e fogueiras - OR: 2,57; IC 95%: 1,31-5,01). RCIU foi associado à primiparidade (OR: 4,66; IC 95%: 1,68-12,95) e anemia materna crônica antes da gravidez (OR: 7,21; IC 95%: 1,29-40,38). CONCLUSõES: Idade materna, estado nutricional e paridade, condições de moradia e exposição à poluição interna foram associados com resultados perinatais na população indígena Guarani. Esses resultados indicam a necessidade de investir no acesso e melhoria da assistência pré-natal; também no fortalecimento do Subsistema de Saúde Indígena, e em ações intersetoriais para o desenvolvimento de políticas habitacionais e de saneamento e melhorias ambientais ajustadas às necessidades e conhecimentos dos povos indígenas.

Incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth - findings from a multi-centric observational study for 14 months in Nepal

Background

Preterm birth is a worldwide epidemic and a leading cause of neonatal mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth in Nepal.

Methods

This was an observational study conducted in 12 public hospitals of Nepal. All the babies born during the study period were included in the study. Babies born < 37 weeks of gestation were classified as preterm births. For the association and outcomes for preterm birth, univariate followed by multiple regression analysis was conducted.

Results

The incidence of preterm was found to be 93 per 1000 live births. Mothers aged less than 20 years (aOR 1.26;1.15–1.39) had a high risk for preterm birth. Similarly, education of the mother was a significant predictor for preterm birth: illiterate mothers (aOR 1.41; 1.22–1.64), literate mothers (aOR 1.21; 1.08–1.35) and mothers having basic level of education (aOR 1.17; 1.07–1.27). Socio-demographic factors such as smoking (aOR 1.13; 1.01–1.26), use of polluted fuel (aOR 1.26; 1.17–1.35) and sex of baby (aOR 1.18; 1.11–1.26); obstetric factors such as nulliparity (aOR 1.33; 1.20–1.48), multiple delivery (aOR 6.63; 5.16–8.52), severe anemia during pregnancy (aOR 3.27; 2.21–4.84), antenatal visit during second trimester (aOR 1.13; 1.05–1.22) and third trimester (aOR 1.24; 1.12–1.38), < 4 antenatal visits during pregnancy (aOR 1.49; 1.38–1.61) were found to be significant risk factors of preterm birth. Preterm has a risk for pre-discharge mortality (10.60; 9.28–12.10).

Conclusion

In this study, we found high incidence of preterm birth. Various socio-demographic, obstetric and neonatal risk factors were associated with preterm birth. Risk factor modifications and timely interventions will help in the reduction of preterm births and associated mortalities.

Trial registration

ISRCTN30829654.

The elements of success in a comprehensive state-wide program to safely reduce the rate of preterm birth

Background

In 2014, a whole-of-population and multi-faceted preterm birth prevention program was introduced in Western Australia with the single aim of safely lowering the rate of preterm birth. The program included new clinical guidelines, print and social media, and a dedicated new clinic. In the first full calendar year the rate of preterm birth fell by 7.6% and the reduction extended from the 28–31 week gestational age group upwards.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in greater depth and to also include the first three years of the program.

Study design

This was a prospective population-based cohort study of perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies before and after commencement of the program.

Results

There was a significant reduction in preterm birth in the tertiary center which extended from 28 weeks gestation onwards and was ongoing. In non-tertiary centers there was an initial reduction, but this was not sustained past the first year. The greatest reduction was observed in pregnancies classified at first attendance as low risk. No benefit was observed in the private sector, but a significant reduction was seen in the remote region of the Kimberley where the program was first launched and vaginal progesterone had been made free-of-charge.

Conclusion

Preterm birth rates can be safely reduced by a multi-faceted and whole-of-population program but the effectiveness requires continuing effort and will be greatest where the strategies are most targeted.

Association between ambient air pollution exposure and infants small for gestational age in Huangshi, China: a cross-sectional study

Small for gestational age (SGA) is defined as intrauterine growth retardation or small sample, referring to the 10th percentile of birth weight lower or two standard deviations less than the average weight at the same gestational age. SGA infants bring great economic and psychological burdens to families and society. The association between exposure to air pollution and SGA in underdeveloped cities with poor air quality remains unclear. Thus, this study is conducted to estimate the effects of maternal exposure to air pollutants on SGA numbers. Birth information was collected from the Huangshi Maternity and Children's Health Hospital from January 1st to December 31st in 2017. Data of pregnancy exposure were accessed using stationary monitors. These data included particulate matter less than or equal to 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀), particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to estimate the association between ambient air pollution and the risk of SGA during different exposure windows. It was found that a 1 μg/m³ increase in air pollution concentrations during the entire pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of SGA, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.055 (1.035-1.076), 1.084 (1.053-1.116), 1.000 (0.953-1.049), and 1.051 (0.968-1.141) for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, and SO₂, respectively. Thus, it is suggested that exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of SGA. The effects of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were more stable than NO₂ and SO₂.

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy among a group of remote dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers in the Northern Territory: The 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study

Remote-living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience a higher burden of influenza infection during pregnancy than any other Australian women. Despite recommendations of inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV) in pregnancy, uptake and safety data are scarce for this population. We examined uptake of IIV in pregnancy and report adverse birth outcomes amongst a predominantly unvaccinated group of remote-living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the Northern Territory (NT), using data from the 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study. Data were deterministically linked with the NT Immunisation Register to ascertain IIV exposure in pregnant women during 2003-2006 and 2009-2011 inclusive. Overall, IIV uptake in pregnancy was 3% (n=20/697 pregnancies); 0% (0/414) pre-influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 7% (20/293) post-influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (2009-2011). Vaccine uptake was poor in this cohort and it is unclear at what stage this policy failure occurred. Women with known comorbidities and/or high risk factors were not targeted for vaccination. Much larger study participant numbers are required to validate between group comparisons but there was no clinically nor statistically significant difference in median gestational ages (38 weeks for both groups), mean infant birthweights (3,001 g unvaccinated vs 3,175 g IIV vaccinated), nor birth outcomes between the few women who received IIV in pregnancy and those who did not. There were no stillbirths in women who received an IIV in pregnancy.

A case for not adjusting birthweight customized standards for ethnicity: observations from a unique Australian cohort

BACKGROUND

Low birthweight is more common in infants of indigenous (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) than of White Australian mothers. Controversy exists on whether fetal growth is normally different in different populations.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the relationships of birthweight, birthweight percentiles, and smoking with perinatal outcomes in indigenous vs nonindigenous infants to determine whether the White infant growth charts could be applied to indigenous infants.

STUDY DESIGN

Data were analyzed for indigenous status, maternal age and smoking, and perinatal outcomes in 45,754 singleton liveborn infants of at least 20 weeks gestation or 400 g birthweight delivered in New South Wales, Australia, between June 2010 and July 2015.

RESULTS

Indigenous infants (n=6372; 14%) had a mean birthweight 67 g lower than nonindigenous infants (P<.0001; with adjustment for infant sex and maternal body mass index). Indigenous mean birthweight percentile was 4.2 units lower (P<.0001). Adjustment for maternal age, smoking, body mass index, and infant sex reduced the difference in birthweight/percentiles to nonsignificance (12 g; P=.07).

CONCLUSION

Disparities exist between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian infants for birthweight, birthweight percentile, and adverse outcome rates. Adjustment for smoking and maternal age removed any significant difference in birthweights and birthweight percentiles for indigenous infants. Our data indicate that birthweight percentiles should not be adjusted for indigenous ethnicity because this normalizes disadvantage; because White and indigenous Australians have diverged for approximately 50,000 years, it is likely that the same conclusions apply to other ethnic groups. The disparities in birthweight percentiles that are associated with smoking will likely perpetuate indigenous disadvantage into the future because low birthweight is linked to the development of chronic noncommunicable disease and poorer educational attainment; similar problems may affect other indigenous populations.

Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight in Indigenous Populations: a systematic review of the world literature

Abstract Objectives: we aimed to identify etiological factors for low birth weight (LBW), prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the Indigenous Population. Methods: for this systematic review, publications were searched in Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs until April 2018. The description in this review was based on the PRISMA guideline (Study protocol CRD42016051145, registered in the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at University of York). We included original studies that reported any risk factor for one of the outcomes in the Indigenous Population. Two of the authors searched independently for papers and the disagreements were solved by a third reviewer Results: twenty-four studies were identified, most of them were from the USA, Canada and Australia. The factors associated were similar to the ones observed in the non-indigenous including unfavorable obstetric conditions, maternal malnutrition, smoking, and maternal age at the extremes of childbearing age, besides environmental factors, geographic location, and access to health care in indigenous communities. Conclusions: etiologic factors for LBW in Indigenous Population have been receiving little attention, especially in Latin America. The three outcomes showed common causes related to poverty and limited access to healthcare. New studies should ensure explicit criteria for ethnicity, quality on the information about gestational age, and the investigation on contextual and culture-specific variables.

Baseline incidence of adverse birth outcomes and infant influenza and pertussis hospitalisations prior to the introduction of influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: a data linkage study of 78 382 mother-infant pairs, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-2015

We conducted probabilistic data linkage of three population datasets for the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, to describe the incidence of preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight and small for gestational age (SGA) per 1000 NT births; and influenza and pertussis hospitalisations per 1 00 000 NT births in infants <7 months of age, in a pre-maternal vaccination era. The Perinatal Trends dataset (1994-2014) formed the cohort of 78 382 births. Aboriginal mother-infant pairs (37%) had disproportionately higher average annual rates (AR) for all adverse birth outcomes compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts; rate ratios: preterm births 2.2 (AR 142.4 vs. 64.7); stillbirths 2.3 (AR 10.8 vs. 4.6); low birthweight 2.9 (AR 54 vs. 19); and SGA 1.7 (AR 187 vs. 111). Hospitalisation (2000-2015) and Immunisation Register datasets (1994-2015), showed that influenza hospitalisations (n = 53) and rates were 42.3 times higher in Aboriginal infants (AR 254 vs. 6); and that pertussis hospitalisations (n = 37) were 7.1 times higher in Aboriginal infants (AR 142.5 vs. 20.2) compared to non-Aboriginal infants. These baseline data are essential to assess the safety and effectiveness of influenza and pertussis vaccinations in pregnant women from the NT. Remote living Aboriginal women and infants stand to benefit the most from these vaccines.

Low birth weight of institutional births in Cambodia: Analysis of the Demographic and Health Surveys 2010-2014

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight (LBW), an important risk factor for early childhood mortality and morbidity, is a major public health concern in developing countries including Cambodia. This study examined the prevalence of LBW across provinces in Cambodia and changes over time, and identified the factors associated with such condition.

METHODS

We used children datasets from Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) 2010 and 2014. There were 3,522 children and 4,991 children in both surveys. Maps illustrating provincial variation in LBW prevalence were constructed. Then, multivariate analyses were conducted to assess factors independently associated with LBW in CDHS 2014.

RESULTS

LBW prevalence remained stable between 2010 and 2014, at around 7.0% 95% CI: 5.8-8.1). all institutional births, but within significant variation across provinces. Factors independently associated with LBW included mother's no education compared with those whose mothers had secondary or higher education (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.6), babies born to mothers with < 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits during the pregnancy compared with those whose mothers had at least 4 ANC visits (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.5-2.8). Also, first-born babies were at greater risk of LBW compared with second-born babies (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-2.0).

CONCLUSION

The study points to key sub-populations at greater risk and regions where LBW is particularly prevalent. Programs should target provinces where LBW prevalence remains high. Illiterate women, especially those pregnant for the first time should be the program priority. The current national program policy, which recommends that pregnant women have ≥ 4 ANC visits during pregnancy should be further reinforced and implemented. Program design should consider ways to communicate the importance of making the recommended number of ANC visits among women with no formal education.