Trends in preterm birth according to data from the Georgian birth registry

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm birth is a relevant issue for both developed and developing countries. The aim of the study was to study premature birth tendencies in Georgia based on the analysis of birth register data. Methodology: The data was collected and studied with retrospective analysis of 4-year data (2017-2020). The data was analyzed by SPSS program.  Results, Discussion: The study revealed an increasing trend in preterm birth. During the research, it was revealed that premature births are mostly present in the age group of 20-29. Most preterm births (42.6%) occurred in mothers who had 3 or more pregnancies. In the case of premature birth, the number of stillbirths tends to decrease. Furthermore, the highest number was recorded in Tbilisi, which is due to high urbanization rates in the city, and in most cases of premature births, the rate of cesarean sections (59.4%) was higher than physiological births. In the case of premature birth, 7.7% of pregnant women (n=1305) did not apply for antenatal visits even once. Conclusion: Every pregnant woman should be covered in an antenatal care program. To reduce premature birth rates, it is important to promote a healthy lifestyle in pregnant women. It is necessary to study the reasons for the high cesarean section rates.