Effects of Vaginal Micronized Progesterone for Prevention of Preterm Birth in Pregnant Women at Nongbuadaeng District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effects of vaginal micronized progesterone in prevention of preterm birth at the 37^th and 34^th week of gestational age, birthweight, neonatal complications and length of stay. Study participants were 46 pregnant women who had history of spontaneous preterm birth and delivered at Nongbuadaeng Hospital between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. Maternal and Newborn data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations). Comparisons between the study and control groups were tested using chi-square and t-test for independent samples.

The results showed that preterm birth rate was lower in the study group at the 37^th and 34^th week of gestational age as compared to those in the control group (21.7% : 50%; RR=0.43; 95% CI=0.23-0.84; p=0.021) and (4.3% : 23.3% RR=0.19; 95% CI=0.04-0.84; p=0.025). Birthweight of both groups had no significant difference (2838 gm. : 2695 gm.; MD 143 gm; p=0.223). Neonatal complications and length of stay more than 7 days were lower among the study group as compared with the control group (10.9% : 30.0%; RR=0.36; 95% CI=0.13-0.97; p=0.035) and (4.3% : 23.3%; RR=0.19; 95% CI=0.04-0.84; p=0.025). Conclusion: Vaginal Micronized Progesterone can reduce the rate of preterm birth in women who had history of spontaneous preterm birth and can reduce the rate of neonatal complications.