Clinical analysis of 828 cases of iatrogenic preterm births.

AIM

To investigate the incidence, causes and delivery methods of iatrogenic preterm births.

MATERIAL & METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to review a cohort of preterm birth records to learn the incidence, causes and delivery methods of 828 iatrogenic preterm births from January 2004 to June 2007. The chi-squared and two tailed Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

During the 3.5-year study period, the total incidence of iatrogenic preterm birth was 6.4%, accounting for 49.8% of the total recorded preterm births. Specifically, the proportion of iatrogenic preterm births to the total recorded preterm births in 2005 was 51.9%, the highest during the study. The top three etiologies of iatrogenic preterm birth were intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, hemorrhage and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy. Among the preterm births studied, 62 pregnancies delivered prior to term were for no recorded indications. Seven hundred and twenty-nine iatrogenic preterm births underwent cesarean section.

CONCLUSIONS

Iatrogenic preterm birth has become the main reason for preterm births and no recorded indications have become one cause of it. Cesarean delivery was the main delivery method among iatrogenic preterm births. Obstetricians should choose the delivery method strictly.