Seasonal Variation of Pre-term Births in Korea.
- Author:
Duk Hee LEE
1
;
Sang Hyeok MA
;
Hai Rim SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pre-term birth;
Seasonal variation
- MeSH:
Child;
Cohort Studies;
Education;
Humans;
Incidence;
Internship and Residency;
Korea*;
Live Birth;
Mothers;
Parturition*;
Pregnancy;
Premature Birth;
Seasons*
- From:Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine
2000;33(4):402-408
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible seasonal patterns of pre-term birth in Korea. METHODS: A total number of 2,669,357 single live births reported to the National Statistical Office from 1995 to 1998 were analyzed. Composite monthly cohorts of ongoing pregnancies were constructed for each month of the year and the probability of pre-term birth was estimated. RESULTS: Increases in the probability of a pre-term birth occurred during winter for the birth of first child and during summer for the birth of second or later child. This seasonal variation was similar among groups divided by sex, residency, age of mother, and education of mother. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggests that some environmental factors related to season may partially explain the incidence of premature births.
