Prevalence and Risk Factors of Preterm Births at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu-somalia - a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth has important implications for child mortality and morbidity and is a prerequisite for achieving the global target for under-five mortality reduction. Prematurity complications are the second-most significant cause of neonatal mortality in Somalia. However, the prevalence and underlying associated risk factors of preterm birth have not been studied, which prompted the need for this study in Somalia. Study objectives: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of preterm births at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study design conducted at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu-Somalia between 21st august to 18th of September 2022.A consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit 260 mother-baby dyads into the study using a structured questionnaire. The prevalence with the 95% Confidence interval was calculated for preterm births. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed using logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with preterm birth. Significance was evaluated at P-value < 0.05. Results: A total of 260 live births were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of preterm births was 10.4% (n =27), 95%CI: 7.0 % - 14.8%. Among the 27 preterm births, 21(77.8%) were moderate to late preterm (32weeks-<37weeks), and 6(22.2%) were very preterm in this study. Multivariable analysis revealed that family size of >3 family members (AOR =0.06, 95%CI:0.01 – 0.39, p =0.003), husband smoking cigarette (AOR =6.01,95%CI:1.56 -23.13, p=0.009), cooking in the living room with charcoal and firewood (AOR =0.17, 95%CI: 0.06 – 0.50, p=0.001), presence of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy(HDP) (AOR=8.70, 95%CI:1.83 – 41.36, p =0.007) and multiple pregnancy (AOR=5.02, 95%CI:2.13 – 19.19, p<0.001) were significantly associated with preterm births. Conclusion: The prevalence of preterm birth in Somalia was 10.4% in this study. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, a, husband smoking cigarette, family size, cooking in the living room with charcoal and firewood and multiple pregnancy were the significant associated factors with preterm birth. Early detection and management of those factors could reduce the risk of premature births, except multiple gestations, which is naturally un-preventable