Published Paper Details:

Background: The unique situation of Iraq in high prevalence of low birth weight and prematurity was attributed in literature to maternal malnutrition and exposure to violence and civil war. The role of magnesium and calcium in missed abortion was tackled in Iraq. Objective: to report on the role of hypomagnesemia in preterm labor in Baghdad, Iraq. Methods: Case files of 200 women delivered in Baghdad Teaching Hospital were included in the study for the period 1st Oct. to 31st July 2021. They were with singleton pregnancy. The requested data were demographic data, parity, weight and height and serum magnesium level. Results: Half of the women gave a preterm infant. The peak of preterm was among maternal age 26-35 years. No significant impact of age on preterm delivery (p = 0.7). Parity and BMI were not significantly associated with preterm delivery (p = 0.6 and 0.3, respectively). A significant higher preterm delivery (63.01%) among women with hypomagnesemia than that among with normal magnesium level (52.7%). Conclusion: Low serum magnesium level during pregnancy precipitates preterm birth.