OBJECTIVE: To study the perinatal factors that affect premature infants and to explore measures for the prevention of premature delivery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 2,567 neonates (170 premature infants and 2 397 full term infants) over a 5 year period in our hospital was done. The perinatal factors, including maternal age, preterm rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy, placenta previa, hypertension of pregnancy, abruptio placentae and antenatal care, were studied. The complications of premature infants were reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence of preterm birth was 6.62% . Except for maternal age, all the other perinatal factors showed significant differences between the full term infants and the preterm infants (P< 0.01 or 0.05 ). The complications of premature infants were mainly neonatal pneumonia, neonatal scleredema, hyperbillirubinemia and intracranial hemorrhage. The earlier the gestational age and the lower the birth weight, the higher the mortality rates in premature neonates. CONCLUSIONS: The key issue of reducing perinatal mortality is to reduce the incidence of perterm birth. It is necessary to improve perinatal care and regular antental examinations. It is necessary to make strategic planning to prevent complications and to reduce the incidence of preterm birth.