DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2026.v14i06.003

Pages: 899-903

Background: Preterm labor is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. It is influenced by multiple socio-demographic and obstetric risk factors. Objective: To evaluate the clinical profile and associated risk factors of patients presenting with preterm labor. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, from June 2019 to November 2019. A total of 100 pregnant women aged 18–40 years with gestational age between 28–37 weeks were included, comprising 50 cases with preterm labor and 50 controls with normal pregnancy. Socio-demographic variables, obstetric characteristics, and clinical history were analyzed using Chi-square test and odds ratio. Results: Baseline characteristics such as age, gravidity, and employment status were comparable between groups. Significant associations were observed between preterm labor and socio-economic status (p=0.041), number of prenatal care visits (p=0.018), and previous history of preterm labor (p=0.006). Women with inadequate antenatal care had a higher risk of preterm labor. Additionally, a history of previous preterm labor increased the relative risk by 2.081 times. Conclusion: Preterm labor is strongly associated with socio-economic disadvantage, inadequate antenatal care, and adverse obstetric history. Early identification and modification of these risk factors may help reduce the incidence of preterm labor and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.