Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: June | Volume: 11 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 190-196
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210630
Born Too Soon; Implications in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu State Nigeria
Nwoga Hope Obiageli1, Ajuba Miriam Obinwanne2, Igweagu Chukwuma Paulinus3
1Public Health Physician, Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria
2Senior Lecturer and Consultant Public Health Physician, Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University College of Medicine Enugu and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria
3Lecturer and Consultant Public Health Physician, Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University College of Medicine Enugu, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Nwoga Hope Obiageli
ABSTRACT
Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is a complex complication of pregnancy with multiple etiologies. This results in long term medical burdens to the families and health care system at large. The objective of the study was to determine the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics that affect preterm delivery.
Methods: The study was a prospective cohort study conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Data for the study were retrieved from the ante-natal and delivery card of the women that delivered at the unit within the time of data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and variables were presented as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation. Bivariate analysis was done using chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p value ≤ 0.05. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors that predicted preterm delivery.
Results: Majority of them were married 746(96.9%), Igbos 763(99.1) and Christians 766(99.5%). Most of the women were civil servants 429(55.7%), while about 31.3% of them were unemployed 241(31.3%). Majority of the women 484(62.9%) had tertiary education. About 48% of them delivered through caesarean section while 53.9% booked within 14-28weeks gestation.
Delivering through caesarean section and gestational age at booking predicted preterm delivery. Un-booked mothers have about 7times odds of having PTB when compared to those that booked at ≥28 week’s gestation.
Conclusion: The prevalence of PTB is still high in Nigeria. Booking status of the mother and C/S delivery were found to be strongly associated with preterm delivery.
Key words: Enugu State, Nigeria, Preterm delivery, Prevalence, Tertiary health facility.