OBJECTIVES: to evaluate maternal characteristics in cases of late prematurity. METHODS: we carried out a cross-sectional study with secondary analysis of pregnant women admitted to a randomized clinical trial conducted in Northeast of Brazil from 2008 to 2010, between 34 and 36 weeks. We analyzed the maternal variables: age, parity, gestational age, history of prematurity and associated medical conditions. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi-Info 3.5.3, with distribution of frequency tables for categorical variables and central tendency and dispersion measures for numerical. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between frequency of morbidities by stratum of gestational age. A significance level of 5% was adopted. RESULTS: a total of 273 women in IMIP with conditions leading to imminent risk of late preterm births. The mean age was 23.1 years and 28.6% were teenagers and primipara were 53.8%. The mean gestational age was 35 weeks. About 12% had a history of prematurity. The conditions associated with late prematurity were: preterm labor (67%), ruptured membranes (39.6%), hypertensive disorders (25.3%). There was no difference in frequency of these conditions by subgroups of gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: spontaneous preterm labor, ruptured membranes and hypertensive disorders were the most common clinical conditions associated with late prematurity.
Pregnancy complications; Premature birth; Morbidity
