Table 1 Social and demographic characteristics of the preterm and term groups

Maternal Age (Mean)

32.7

31.5

0.285 z-score = -1.0664

32.7 ± 5.10

31.5 ± 4.50

0.25^a

Ethnicity

 African

44(89.8%)

48 (98%)

0.52^b

 Caucasian

3 (6.1%)

1 (2%)

 East Asian

2 (4.1%)

0 (0%)

Marital Status

 Married

41 (83.7%)

39 (79.6%)

0.60^b

 Single

8 (16.3%)

10 (20.4%)

Highest education attained

 Tertiary

40 (81.6%)

43 (87.5%)

0.54^b

 Secondary

8 (16.3%)

6 (12.8%)

 Primary

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

Diet

 Nonvegetarian

46 (93.9%)

48 (98%)

0.30^b

 Vegetarian

3 (6.1%)

1 (2%)

Parity

 Primigravida

12 (24.5%)

32 (65.3%)

0.0007^b

 1 -2

23 (47%)

12 (24.5%)

 3–4

12 (24.5%)

4 (8.2%)

 5 or More

2 (4.1%)

1 (2%)

Previous Preterm Delivery

 Present

10 (20.4%)

2 (4.1%)

0.01^b

 Absent

39 (79.6%)

47 (95.9%)

Mode of delivery

 Elective Caesarean Section

4 (8.2%)

1 (2%)

 < 0.00001 ^b

 Emergency Caesarean Section

13 (26.5%)

3 (6.1%)

 Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery

18 (36.7%)

45 (91.8%)

 Unknown^c

14 (28.6%)

0 (0%)

Mean ± SD

Gestational age (Mean days)

224.6

276.9

 < 0.00001 ^a z-score = 8.657