PREMATURE BIRTH AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NEONATE BORN AT GUNCHURE PRIMARY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Every year, an estimated 15 million babies born premature globally and this number is rising. Pre-term birth complications account for 35% of the estimated 3.1 million global neonatal deaths and are the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. In our country Ethiopia one third of a million neonates are born too soon each year and 24,000 children under five die due to direct preterm complication. Objective: Aimed to assess the proportion of premature birth and associated factors among neonates born at Gunchire hospital from June 12, 2022 to June 12, 2023GC Methodology: Institutional based cross sectional study design was conducted by reviewing delivery log book of mother's who gave birth from June 12, 2022 to June 12, 2023 GC at Gunchire primary hospital. Systematic random sampling method was used to select study unit. The data was collected from July 20, 2023 to July 25, 2023GC by using structured check list from delivery log book. It was analyzed by using SPSS for windows version 21. For each independent variable chi-square was calculated with their respective p-values to measure whether they are associated with dependent variable at significant p-value of <0.05.Result: Of 295 neonates included in the study, 15.3% of them were premature births with 95%: CI [0.112-0.194]. According to this study previous history of premature birth with (CI: 0.000-0.010, P=0.000), premature rupture of membrane with (CI: 0.000-0.010, P=0.000), parity with (CI:0.000-0.010, P=0.000), preeclampsia with (CI: 0.000-0.010, P= 0.003) and Ante partum hemorrhage with (CI:0.00-0.016, p=0.014) were significantly associated with premature birth at p- value of <0.05. But maternal age, Residence, marital status, previous history of abortion, Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Diabetes Mellitus were not significantly associated with premature birth. Conclusion and Recommendations Generally according to the findings of this study the proportion of premature birth is high and the associated factors of prematurity are: previous history of premature birth, premature rupture of membrane, Antepartum hemorrhage and Preeclampsia. So, it is better to regularly screen out pregnant mothers on hypertension, Ante partum hemorrhage and premature rupture of membrane so that they will be alarmed as this can put in risk of preterm birth.