Preterm birth--its etiology and outcome.

This is a retrospective case control study. Out of a total of 1238 births occurring over a period of 8 months at the Aga Khan University Medical Centre, Karachi, 9.4% were preterm. Factors found to be associated with preterm labour were age > 35, height < 156 cm, anaemia or urinary tract infection in pregnancy, abruptio placentae, polyhydramnios, preterm rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal distress and intrauterine death. Previous bad obstetric history was also relevant. A preterm baby was found to be at higher risk of postnatal complications resulting in neonatal death or admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) than a full term baby.