Abi Kirubarajan receives funding from PSI Foundation for research examining relationship between cervical lacerations and pre-term birth

McMaster doctoral student Abi Kirubarajan has been awarded $29,000 over two years from the PSI Foundation to lead a study examining the potential connections between cervical lacerations and spontaneous preterm birth (PTB).

PTB affects approximately 8% of pregnancies and is a leading cause of infant death and morbidity in Canada and around the world. However, the cause of PTB in over 50% of deliveries is unknown.

The largest of its kind worldwide, Kirubarajan’s study will gather data from Ontario’s perinatal database, which contains information on over 2 million births, and examine the relationship between cervical laceration in patients’ first vaginal birth and subsequent PTB.

Kirubarajan says the project aims to identify whether cervical lacerations increase risk of PTB and promote informed clinical decision-making.

“Our study has the potential to promote shared decision-making about delivery options, and advance our understanding of severe complications in pregnancy,” she says.

The study will be supervised by Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Giulia Muraca, with Associate Professor, Rohan D’Souza, as the clinical lead.