Rates of and Factors Associated With Recurrence of Preterm Delivery

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 1997 in the United States, approximately 10% (n = 310,843) of white newborns and 18% (n = 104,152) of black newborns were delivered preterm, before 37 completed weeks of gestation.1 Preterm birth increases the risks for infant morbidity and mortality. Clinicians can use information on rates of repeat preterm delivery in counseling patients; those who have already experienced a preterm delivery are likely to be especially anxious for guidance. Researchers may find that identifying risk factors for recurrent preterm delivery suggests hypotheses about the etiology of preterm delivery, the cause of which is largely unknown.2 In addition, policy makers responsible for directing prenatal care and for allocating research funds need to know the contribution of recurrent preterm delivery to the overall rate of preterm delivery. We used birth and fetal death certificates filed in Georgia from 1980 through 1995 to compute the rate of recurrence of singleton preterm delivery in second pregnancies.