Guiping People's Hospital, China: preterm birth rate fell over 2016–2025 among 49,217 live births
A retrospective study of 49,217 births in Guiping found an overall decline in preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age rates; low birth weight and macrosomia showed no significant trend.
A retrospective study of live births at Guiping People's Hospital (Guangxi, China) reports different trends in adverse birth outcomes between 2016 and 2025. The paper, published in Frontiers in Public Health on 13 November 2026 (doi.org), analysed 49,217 live-born neonates from the hospital's maternal and child health information system frontiersin.org
doi.orgfrontiersin.orgOpen source ↗.
The overall prevalence was 10.5% for preterm birth (PTB), 10.2% for low birth weight (LBW) and 2.0% for macrosomia. Small for gestational age (SGA) occurred in 13.6% of eligible singleton live births.
Trends over ten years
Trends were estimated with Joinpoint regression. In the primary analysis PTB declined overall, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of −1.68% (95% CI, −2.45 to −0.91). SGA also decreased, with an AAPC of −2.59% (95% CI, −4.78 to −0.35). No significant overall trends were found for LBW or macrosomia.
For PTB, the annual percent change was positive in 2023–2025 (6.41%; 95% CI, 0.06 to 13.18). The authors note that this estimate rests on only three annual observations and was no longer statistically significant when annual errors were assumed to be uncorrelated frontiersin.org
doi.orgfrontiersin.orgOpen source ↗. They state that further research is needed to determine whether the recent increase continues.
Associated factors
Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors linked to each outcome. Advanced maternal age and multiple gestation were associated with higher odds of both PTB and LBW.
Second or later birth was associated with lower odds of LBW and SGA but higher odds of macrosomia. Female neonates had higher odds of LBW and lower odds of PTB and macrosomia. Maternal age under 20 years and rural residence were associated with higher odds of SGA.
The authors also used exploratory Random Forest models for supplementary prediction. They point out that the four outcomes are related but not interchangeable: PTB is defined by gestational age, LBW by a fixed birth-weight cutoff, macrosomia by a high absolute birth-weight threshold, and SGA by birth weight relative to gestational age and neonatal sex frontiersin.org
doi.orgfrontiersin.orgOpen source ↗.
The data come from a single hospital that is one of the main delivery facilities in the Guiping area. The associations reported are statistical and do not by themselves establish causes.
