Socio-Demographic and Genetic Study of Preterm Birth (Code-T0222)

Introduction: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The incidence of preterm birth is influenced by various socio-demographic factors such as maternal age, education, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle choices. Additionally, genetic factors play a crucial role in determining susceptibility to PTB. Understanding the interaction between these factors is essential for developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Aim and Objective:

• To analyze the relative role of socio-demographic determinants, lifestyle factors, and antenatal care variables in influencing the risk of preterm birth as compared to healthy full-term pregnancies.
• To analyze the association of polymorphisms in candidate gene MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) of the one-carbon folate pathway with the risk of preterm birth in this population (both in mothers and infants).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 200 women, with 100 women who had experienced preterm births and 100 women with full-term deliveries. Socio-demographic data, including maternal age, education level, income, and lifestyle factors, were collected. Genetic analysis focused on identifying polymorphisms in genes associated with preterm birth. Data analysis was performed to identify significant correlations between socio-demographic factors, genetic markers, and the risk of PTB.

Results: The study found that younger maternal age, lower socioeconomic status, and certain lifestyle factors such as smoking and inadequate prenatal care were significantly associated with preterm birth. Genetic analysis revealed specific gene variants linked to inflammation and premature labor, further supporting the genetic predisposition to PTB.

Conclusion: Both socio-demographic factors and genetic markers play a critical role in the occurrence of preterm birth. Identifying at-risk women through these factors can help in implementing preventive measures to reduce the incidence of PTB and improve neonatal outcomes.

Keywords: Preterm birth, Socio-demographic factors, Genetic markers, Risk factors, Maternal age, Neonatal outcomes.