PRETERM BIRTHS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHERS WHO GAVE BIRTH IN AXUM AND ADWA TOWN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby that occurs before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Preterm birth is the single most important cause of death in the critical first month of life and a significant cause of long-term loss of human potential amongst survivors all around the world. Despite tremendous improvement in new born care, prevention of preterm birth has remained largely unaddressed. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with preterm births among mothers who gave birth in Axum and Adwa town public hospitals. The study was conducted in Axum and Adwa town public hospitals from February 08-March 08, 2017. Institutional based cross-sectional study was applied among 472 women who gave birth in Axum and Adwa town public hospitals. Three hospitals were selected purposely and sample size was allocated proportionally to each hospitals. Every mother who full fills the inclusion criteria was recruited in to the study consecutively until the desired sample size was achieved. Data was collected by face-to-face interviewer administered questionnaire and from the mother’s profile card by six trained diploma midwives. Gestational age was calculated based on mother LNMP or early ultrasound result. The collected data was entered into EpiData 3.1 and then exported and analysed using SPSS V 22. Sentences, frequencies, summary measures, tables and graphs were used to present descriptive data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the preterm births. Statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. A total of 472 mothers were included in the study yielding to a response rate of 97.9%. The prevalence of preterm births was found to be 13.3% (95% CI: 10.3%, 16.5%). Being a rural resident (AOR=2.13,95% CI:(1.07,4.22), short inter pregnancy interval (AOR= 5.4, 95% CI: (1.32, 22.05), previous preterm birth(AOR= 3.74, 95% CI: (1.03, 16.34), Premature rupture of membrane(AOR=4.14, 95% CI: (1.92, 8.89), induced onset of labor(AOR=2.49, 95% CI: (1.06, 5.85) multiple pregnancy(AOR= 5.69, 95% CI: (2.27, 14.28), malaria during pregnancy (AOR= 4.71, 95% CI: (1.98, 11.23), Presence of chronic illness (AOR= 4.55, 95% CI: (1.83, 11.26) were found to be significantly associated with preterm birth. Preterm birth is still a public health problem in Ethiopia. The main factors associated with preterm birth were residence, short inter pregnancy interval, previous history of preterm birth, PROM, multiple gestation, Presence of chronic medical illness, being exposed for malaria during the pregnancy. Therefore, still efforts have to be made to decrease the prevalence of preterm births and concerned bodies are recommended to act over these factors accordingly so as to reduce the problem.