Risk factors for preterm delivery in Hualien: View from a regional general hospital

In order to identify risk factors for preterm delivery in Hualien, a case-control study was conducted at Tzu Chi Buddhist General Hospital between July 1994 and June 1995. Demographic characteristics, as well as reproductive, prenatal and medical histories, were obtained from the medical records of 80 women with a preterm delivery (cases) and 160 women with a term delivery (controls) matched by delivery date and infant sex. With multiple logistic regression analyses, we identified four risk factors that remained significant for preterm delivery: unmarried status, alcohol drinking habit, premature rupture of membrane and low total weight gain during pregnancy. We suggest a more aggressive approach to appropriate family planning and better prenatal care including alcohol cessation programmes, promotion of weight gain during pregnancy and early treatment of complications of pregnancy in order to reduce the preterm delivery rate.