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

Abstract

Objectives: Prematurity is considered the second leading cause all over the world of the neonatal
morbidity and mortality. The aim is to review the socioeconomic determinants of preterm birth (PTB)
compared to term births among the population resident in state of Qatar.
Methods: This was a retrospective data analysis of 59,308 births. Data were retrieved from a Populationbased
cohort Study retrieved from PEARL-Peristat maternal newborn registry for 2011, 2012, 2017, and
2018. We compared the preterm births (delivery < 37 weeks) and the term births (delivery ≥ 37 weeks)
against different factors. Each factor was divided into optimum socio-economic environment (control)
and less optimum environment risk exposed group (risk case). The socioeconomic factors are 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: We enrolled 5430 preterm newborns and 53878 born at full-term respectively. The prevalence
of preterm birth was 9%. There was more preterm birth among Qatari women than non-Qatari 10.4%
(1796/17115) versus non-Qatari 8.6% (3634/42193) with p < 0.0001. High risk pregnancy was more
likely associated with preterm birth, 12% versus 8.5% in normal pregnancy with P < 0.001, and CI
=1.15-1.31 and OR=1.23. Lack of antenatal care was strongly associated with preterm birth with 15%
vs 8.6%. Preterm birth was 6 times likely to occur with assisted conception 38% vs 8.5% in normal
conception with P value < 0.0001 and CI=6.11-7.34. Mothers with high gravidity were less likely
to deliver prematurely 9.4% vs 13.6 % in gravidity less than 4 with OR= 0.4 and P value < 0.0001.
Housewife was less likely to deliver prematurely p < 0.001, OR=1.23 and CI=1.15-1.31. Maternal
smoking
None of father education, poor housing, religion, level of maternal education, family income, early
childbearing, or marital status were of significant impact on increased risk of Preterm birth.
Conclusions: In our population, we identified several factors associated with preterm births, the most
important is Lack of antenatal care, assisted conception and working mothers.