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Preterm labor (PTL) is responsible for most cases of neonatal death. In most of these cases, the causes of PTL have not been established although several risk factors have been described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for PTL before 37 gestational weeks among Egyptian women.

In this case-control study, 117 pregnant women without risk factors for PTL were chosen. The control group (n = 45) had term labor (gestational weeks ≥ 37 weeks), and the case group (n = 72) had PTL (gestational weeks < 37 weeks). The two groups were screened for urinary and vaginal infections. The role of different demographic characteristics, patient history, and clinical signs were also investigated.

Several risk factors were identified in this study, including age < 20 years, nulliparity, previous abortion and previous preterm birth, menses vaginal bleeding, a vaginal pH > 5, a …