OBJECTIVE:

To identify the risk of preterm birth and possible determinants among women in Hanoi, Vietnam.

METHOD:

Prospective cohort study of 1709 women with singleton live births at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, June-October 2002. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine predictors of preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation).

RESULT:

The risk of preterm birth was 11.8%. Physically demanding work during pregnancy, two or more prior spontaneous abortions, history of preterm birth, vaginal bleeding, inadequate prenatal care during the first 20 weeks of gestation, and history of intrauterine device use with removal less than 12 months before the current pregnancy were associated with increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratios between 1.8 and 2.6).

CONCLUSION:

Preterm birth is relatively frequent in this population. Beyond established risk factors, these data implicated agricultural work and physical work demands with preterm birth, as well as history of recent IUD use.