Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm birth (PTB) complications is a leading cause of neonatal death, with neonatal sepsis and birth asphyxia. The objective of this study was to determine frequency and factors associated with PTB.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital, during the period January 1^st to December 31^st 2014. Data were available on admissions from the medical records extracted from the hospital Statistics Department and analyzed by SPSS.

Results: In the study period, 2869 births were recorded. Of them, 229 births were preterm (8%) with 50.3% males and 49.7% females. Extremely PTB was 60% of very low birth weight compared with 2.9% of moderate PTB with a statistically significant difference. Preterm deliveries encountered more among mothers with < 4 gravidity (69.9%) and mothers with no antenatal care (66.8%). Preterm delivery occurs in 52.4% as idiopathic without known cause. 

Conclusion: PTB constituted 8% of all deliveries. The study concluded the importance of conducting epidemiological studies to aid in the prevention of preterm birth by determining risk factors that may be amenable to control on a population basis and by identifying high risk groups that can be targeted by clinical services. Encouraging focused antenatal care specially for high risk pregnancies and proper utilization of maternal and child health services is also highly recommended. 

Keywords: Premature, birth weight, Maternal Factors, Maternity Hospital, Aden-Yemen.

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