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Background: Preterm labor occurs in patients with risk factors. Our objective is to determine these risk factors in patients admitted for this pathology. Material and methods: This is a case-control study, whose cases are represented by the patients admitted for preterm labor during the year 2011 at the Befelatanana University Hospital Center of Obstetric Gynecology in Madagascar. Results: We recorded 1.77 preterm labors per 100 deliveries in the Center. The risk factors found were the young maternal age (OR = 1.806); parity starting from four (OR = 1.97); heavy work (OR = 1.139); history of cervico-isthmic insufficiency (OR = 2.007), miscarriage (OR = 2.916), and smoking (OR = 21.428). Pathologies that are associated with pregnancy were represented by infections (urinary with OR = 21.428, genital with OR = 36.122, and others with OR = 8.201), placenta previa (OR = 9.511), anemia (OR = 38.452), the uterine overdistension factors like hydramnios (OR = 2) and twin pregnancy (OR = 10.326), the presence of a premature rupture of the membranes (OR = 24.608) and chorioamnionitis (OR = 8.201), as well as an intergenesis interval of less than one year (OR = 1.762). Conclusion: Screening for these risk factors during pregnancy follow-ups would greatly reduce the incidence of prematurity, which remains the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity.