PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF PREMATURITY IN NEONATES ADMITTED TO THE MAIWAND TEACHING HOSPITAL: AN ANALYTIC CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Globally, around 2.5 million neonates die each year, and prematurity accounts for the main cause of such deaths. The majority cases of prematurity occur in Asian and African countries. Some factors may increase the risk of prematurity and are known as the associated factors of prematurity. Since there was a paucity of data regarding the prevalence and associated factors of prematurity in neonates admitted to the Neonatal Unit of Maiwand Teaching Hospital, such a study was conducted. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of prematurity in neonates admitted to the Neonatal Unit of Maiwand Teaching Hospital during 2021-2022.

Method: This was an analytic cross-sectional study. SPSS software and appropriate statistical tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: Totally, 121 neonates admitted to the Neonatal Unit of Maiwand Teaching Hospital were evaluated, of whom 61.2% were boys and 38.8% were girls. The mean gestational age of newborns was 35.4±3.3, while the mean maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) was 24.5±4. In newborn babies who were admitted, the prevalence of prematurity was found to be 48.8% (late preterm babies account for 24%) in this study.  Maternal age less than 20 year was significantly associated with prematurity (AOR=4.8, P-value=0.027). Furthermore, there were statistically significant associations between maternal BMI less than 18.5 (AOR=9, P-value=0.047) and more than 30 (AOR=1.6, P-value=0.01) with prematurity.

Conclusion: The prevalence of neonates with gestational ages of less than 37 weeks was higher in the Neonatal Unit, and more cases were late preterm. Maternal age less than 20 years, BMI less than 18.5 and more than 30 were significantly associated with prematurity.