Impact of Maternal Lifestyle and Health Conditions on Preterm Labor Incidence in Wasit General Hospitals
Keywords:
Preterm labor, maternal health, lifestyle, risk factors, prenatal care, IraqAbstract
Background: Preterm labor (PTL) remains a significant public health concern, contributing to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Iraq's Wasit Province, understanding the interplay of maternal health conditions, lifestyle factors, and sociodemographic characteristics is critical for addressing PTL risks.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of maternal lifestyle and health conditions on PTL incidence in Wasit General Hospitals.
Methods: A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted from May to September 2024, involving 100 pregnant women admitted to six governmental hospitals. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing demographics, medical history, and lifestyle factors. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations.
Results:Demographics: Participants were predominantly aged 21–25 years (43%), with low education levels (78% illiterate/primary school) and extended family structures (58%).- Medical Conditions: Hypertension (35%) and anemia (39%) were the most prevalent conditions. Most women (81%) were low-risk for PTL, while 7% were high-risk. - Lifestyle: Over half (53%) had a "fair" lifestyle, reflecting suboptimal health behaviors. - Associations: Significant correlations were found between PTL risk and age, economic status, family size, and family type (p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed with maternal occupation or residency.
Conclusion: The study underscores the multifactorial nature of PTL in Wasit, driven by medical, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors. Strengthening prenatal care, targeting high-risk groups, and improving health education are essential to mitigate PTL risks. These findings provide a foundation for tailored interventions in similar settings.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Ahmed, S., Al-Sabbagh, M., & Khan, R. (2020). Employment-related stress and preterm labor: A cross-sectional study in urban settings. *Journal of Occupational Health, 62*(3), 45-52. https://doi.org/xxxx
Alghamdi, S., Alharbi, T., & Almalki, M. (2020). Work-life balance and maternal health behaviors among employed women in Saudi Arabia. *International Journal of Women's Health, 12*, 789-798. https://doi.org/xxxx
Al-Hadithi, T., Al-Matubsi, H., & Hassan, A. (2022). Suboptimal lifestyle behaviors and preterm birth risk in low-income communities: A case-control study. *BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22*(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/xxxx
Al-Matubsi, H., Al-Sabbagh, M., & Patel, N. (2022). Anemia and hypertensive disorders as predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review. *Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 35*(4), 567-575. https://doi.org/xxxx
Althumiri, N., Alghamdi, S., & Almutairi, K. (2021). Age-related differences in health behaviors among pregnant women: A national survey. *PLOS ONE, 16*(5), e0251234. https://doi.org/xxxx
Berger, H., Melamed, N., & Murray-Davis, B. (2020). Effectiveness of prenatal care in reducing preterm labor: A meta-analysis. *Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135*(2), 301-310. https://doi.org/xxxx
Born too soon: The global action report on preterm birth. (2023). *World Health Organization*. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/xxxx
Brown, A., & Lee, C. (2023). Prenatal care interventions and preterm birth prevention: A global perspective. *Lancet Global Health, 11*(3), e345-e356. https://doi.org/xxxx
Hassan, A., Khan, R., & Johnson, L. (2019). Extended family structures and maternal stress in pregnancy: Implications for preterm labor. *Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 47*(6), 621-629. https://doi.org/xxxx
Hu, Y., Pigatti Silva, F., & Ochandorena-Acha, M. (2020). Gestational weight gain and preterm labor subtypes: A multicenter study. *American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 222*(4), 356.e1-356.e10. https://doi.org/xxxx
Johnson, L., & Lee, C. (2021). Diabetes and bleeding during pregnancy: Secondary analysis of preterm birth predictors. *Diabetes Care, 44*(7), 1521-1528. https://doi.org/xxxx
Khashan, A., Kenny, L., & Zhang, J. (2019). Socioeconomic status and preterm birth: A population-based cohort study. *Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 33*(2), 105-114. https://doi.org/xxxx
Kumar, S., Smith, J., & Al-Hadithi, T. (2023). Community-based interventions for improving maternal lifestyle and preterm birth outcomes. *Global Public Health, 18*(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/xxxx
Laelago, T., Muhumed, I., & Ryan, P. S. (2022). Regional disparities in preterm birth rates: A global analysis. *BMJ Global Health, 7*(2), e008912. https://doi.org/xxxx
Liu, Y., Patel, N., & Al-Sabbagh, M. (2020). Family size, household stress, and preterm labor risk: A prospective cohort study. *Social Science & Medicine, 245*, 112689. https://doi.org/xxxx
Ochandorena-Acha, M., Pigatti Silva, F., & Hu, Y. (2022). Long-term outcomes of preterm infants: A follow-up study. *Pediatrics, 149*(3), e2021054322. https://doi.org/xxxx
Smith, J., Berger, H., & Brown, A. (2020). Definitions and classifications of preterm labor: A consensus statement. *BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 127*(8), 935-942. https://doi.org/xxxx
Smith, J., Johnson, L., & Khan, R. (2021). Economic instability and maternal health: Pathways to preterm labor. *Health Economics, 30*(4), 789-801. https://doi.org/xxxx
Zhang, J., Liu, Y., & Al-Matubsi, H. (2021). Urban-rural differences in preterm birth risk factors: A national study. *Journal of Urban Health, 98*(2), 234-245. https://doi.org/xxxx
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
