Burden and risk factors of preterm birth in Nasarawa State, North Central, Nigeria: A five-year case review

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth has been on the increase globally and accounting for morbidities and mortalities. Preterm delivery referred to the birth of a newborn prior to thirty seven completed gestational weeks. There is dearth of knowledge on the burden of preterm birth in this state. This study therefore determined the burden of preterm deliveries in Nasarawa State, evaluate the risk factors and identify the outcome of such deliveries. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of all preterm delivered from the 1st of January 2014 to the 31st of December 2013 at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia, General Hospital Akwanga and Medical Centre Mararaba Gurku in the Southern, Northern and Western senatorial zones of Nasarawa State respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of mothers of preterm in this study is 26.5±5.7 years. More than three-quarter of preterm birth in Nasarawa State were at the DASH Lafia. The prevalence of preterm birth and admissions were 1.5% and 10.8% respectively. One in four of the preterm were either late preterm or extreme preterm. Singleton gestation accounted for 82.1% of the preterm births while 75.6% of such deliveries where through the vaginal mode of deliveries. Risk factors for preterm deliveries were multiple gestation, antepartum haemorrhage (placenta previa), premature rupture of membrane and previous preterm delivery. Deaths among the preterm was 11% in this study. Conclusion: The burden of preterm births in this study is comparable to other centre in same region. Half of the preterm were either late or extreme preterm. Risk factors for preterm deliveries were placenta previa, premature rupture of membrane, multiple gestation and previous preterm child birth. Death was recorded in one out of every nine preterm