Introduction

The incidence of preterm labour varies between 5 and 11% of pregnancies worldwide. In India it is 7 to 10 % of total births. Preterm labour is defined as the presence of uterine contractions of sufficient frequency and intensity to effect progressive effacement and dilatation of cervix prior to 37 weeks of gestation. The etiology of preterm labour is multifactorial and many times the cause is not clearly understood. Successful reduction of perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with prematurity requires effective risk identification and behavioral modification programs for the prevention of preterm labour.

Objectives of the study

To study the influence of socioeconomic status, maternal age, previous obstetrics outcome, association of short cervix, maternal disease and infections, associated obstetric complications and the perinatal outcome in preterm labour.

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Dr Rajeswari M

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,

GMC Palakkad, Kerala, India

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