Descrição
The prematurity is the most frequent cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objectives: to make a comparative survey among term and pre-term births to identify the obstetric factors related to prematurity. Methods: study with a quantitative, descriptive design with a retrospective documentary, developed in the Mãe de Deus Hospital, in Porto Alegre/RS. The sample consisted of 222 pre-term births and 1467 term births. Informacion were collected from the clinical history of maternal and newborn. Results: The prevalence of pre-term births was found to be 13,1%. The variables that show significant association with pre-term were: maternal age 20-34 years 70,7% (x2=0,914), parity with 51,8% of women were giving birth for the first time (x2=2,531), cesarean section 86,9% (x2=0,098), the male NB 55,9% (x2= 0,808), low birth weight 52,7% (x2=388,124), number of prenatal check ups ≥ 6 check-ups 76,6% (x2=234,289) and the obstetric factors (pre-eclampsia 32,4%, premature obstetric labor 15,3%, rupreme 14%, intra uterine growth restriction 10,4%, oligohydramnios 9,5%, placenta previa 5,4% and fetal distress 4,5%. Conclusions: the study of obstetric factors involved in pre-term birth is of fundamental importance to the understand and planning action for maternal and child health.