WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Shaymaa Khaleel Ibrahim, Noor Abdulwahid Jumaah Alrasheed and Noor Mohammed Saeed Asad

ABSTRACT

Background: Late-term and post-term pregnancies are associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Identifying predictive factors is crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes. Objective: This study evaluates whether cervical length measured between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation predicts late and post-term pregnancy. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Al-Immamein Al-Kadhimaein Medical City, enrolling 100 singleton pregnant women. Cervical length was measured at 24-28 weeks, and gestational outcomes were recorded. Late and post-term pregnancies were defined as those extending beyond 42 weeks (≥294 days from the last menstrual period). Results: The mean maternal age was 24.4 ± 4.1 years, with a BMI of 26.9 ± 6.2 kg/m². Among participants, 18.0% had late/post-term pregnancies. Cervical length at 24-28 weeks averaged 33.6 ± 5.5 mm and was significantly longer in late/post-term pregnancies (36.7 ± 5.4 mm, p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between cervical length and gestational age (R = 0.42, p < 0.001). Fetal malposition was significantly associated with late/post-term pregnancy (50.0%, p = 0.008). A cervical length cutoff of 37.08 mm predicted late/post-term pregnancy with 50% sensitivity, 82% specificity, and an AUC of 0.696. Conclusion: Cervical length measurement at 24-28 weeks is a valuable predictor of late and post-term pregnancy. A cutoff of 37.08 mm identifies pregnancies at increased risk, aiding clinical decision-making.