Abstract
BACKGROUND: The rate of preterm birth has been increasing worldwide. Most preterm babies are at an increased risk of central nervous system impairments as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of and associated factors contributing to preterm birth in Taiwan. METHODS: Information on obstetric antecedents and risk factors for preterm birth in pregnant women was obtained from the National Health Insurance Research (NHIR) database provided by the Taiwan National Health Research Institute. All live births from 2004 to 2013 in Taiwan were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 130,362 live births from 2004 to 2013 were included in this study. Overall, the average annual rate of preterm births increased by 5.3% (from 3.33% in 2004 to 5.11% in 2013). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that nulliparous women, multifetal pregnancies, advanced mother age, history of preterm birth, history of maternal drug abuse/dependence, and maternal medical complications were positively associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (all p-values< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overall proportion of preterm births increased from 2004 to 2013 in Taiwan. Babies born preterm had a higher risk of developing morbidities and mortalities. The development of a comprehensive program to identify the high-risk group is needed for effective interventions to prevent premature birth.