Preterm labour is occurrence of regular uterine contractions that produce either cervix dilation or effacement prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation. Incidence of premature delivery is about 10% of all birth. Objective of study is to determine an association between anemia and preterm labour. A Case-Control study was conducted at Unit 3 (III), Gynae and Obs., Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan for six months (March, 2009 to September, 2009). Pregnant patients of reproductive age group (18-35 years) of any parity, presenting with complaint of labour pains were selected and were being divided into two main groups. Group A was of patients between 24-37 weeks of gestation. Group B was of patients who were delivering after 37 completed weeks of gestation. Both groups were investigated for the presence or absence of anemia, polyhydramnios and UTI. During the period of this study, total 280 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were studied. Two groups were studied (Group A= Preterm/cases group and Group B= Term/control group) for anemia. In group A, 68 patients were found to be anemic while 72 had normal hemoglobin. In group B, 41 patients were found to be anemic while 99 were having normal hemoglobin. It was observed that among the patients studied, those with preterm labour are 2.3 times more likely to have anemia than patient with normal labour. There was significant difference between frequency/prevalence of anemia between controls and cases.
 

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