Prevalence of premature newborns resulting from twin pregnancy: an integrative review

Abstract

Introduction: Twin pregnancies are considered high risk due to their association with premature birth, which affects around 50% of these pregnancies. Prematurity in multiple pregnancies increases neonatal morbidity and mortality rates and is influenced by obstetric factors such as cervical insufficiency and gestational hypertension. In addition, socioeconomic conditions have an impact on the prevalence of preterm births, especially in women with less access to prenatal care.  Methodology: This study carried out an integrative literature review, focusing on the prevalence of prematurity in twin pregnancies and its associated factors. The methodology followed the PICo strategy and included searching databases such as LILACS, SciELO, PubMed and Scopus. Initially, 267 studies were identified and 12 were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research used exclusively secondary sources and did not require approval by the Ethics Committee. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of prematurity in twin pregnancies was higher than in single pregnancies, with around 50% resulting in premature births. The average gestational age was 34 weeks, indicating moderate to late preterm births. Complications such as hypertension and gestational diabetes contributed to prematurity, and 30% of newborns required mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: The high incidence of prematurity in twin pregnancies requires greater attention from health teams and specific interventions. Specialized monitoring and the implementation of clinical protocols are essential to prevent premature births. More research is needed to better understand the risk factors involved.