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PIN — Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Study

Preterm births — those deliveries before 37 weeks gestation — are one of the major contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. This study’s primary goal is to identify etiologic factors for preterm delivery, including preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), delivery due to early onset of labor, and related complications of pregnancy, so that public health measures can be taken to reduce this adverse pregnancy outcome and its associated health, social, and economic costs.

The project had four major phases of data collection during the prenatal period, referred to as PIN1, PIN2, PIN3, and PIN3plus. A Postpartum component recontacted some of the PIN3 and PIN3plus participants and their babies at 3-months and 12-months postpartum.

The primary factors examined include:

  • physical activity
  • psychosocial factors
  • placental characteristics
  • postpartum weight retention
  • nutritional factors and food security
  • bacterial vaginosis and other genital tract infections
  • occupational physical exertion
  • smoking
  • sexual behavior during pregnancy
  • vaginal bleeding
  • a variety of health and social behaviors
  • community-level factors