INCIDENCE OF PRETERM DELIVERY IN HONG-KONG CHINESE

A retrospective analysis of the obstetric database between January, 19 95 and December, 1996 was conducted to establish the rate of preterm b irth and the incidence of babies with low birth-weight amongst Hong Ko ng Chinese in an obstetric teaching unit in Hong Kong, and to investig ate possible risk factors for spontaneous preterm deliveries. In the s eries of 13,641 Chinese women who delivered during the study period, t he incidence of preterm births before 37 weeks' gestation was 7.4% whi le the incidence of low birth-weight infants (<2,500g) was 6.4%. When only singleton pregnancies were included, the incidences of preterm bi rths and low birth-weight were 6.5% and 5.1% respectively. This study has demonstrated results contrary to the belief that premature deliver y is uncommon in a Chinese population. In addition, we have found that , similar to Caucasian populations, hypertensive disorders of pregnanc y, gestational diabetes, antepartum haemorrhage and congenital malform ation are significant risk factors for spontaneous preterm labour in s ingleton pregnancy in our Chinese population.