Maternal and obstetric factors associated with preterm births among mothers delivering at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine maternal and obstetric factors associated with the preterm births among mothers delivering in Kiambu level 5 hospital.

Design: The study used unmatched case-control design.

Setting: The study was carried out at Kiambu level 5 hospital maternity ward

Participants: The study population were mothers with babies. Consecutive method was used for cases and systematic sampling for controls.

Interventions: The data was collected through interviews by administering semi-structured questionnaires to the participants. Data abstraction forms were used to obtain data from antenatal cards. Data was analysed using statistical package of social science version 26. Descriptive analysis was done to generate frequencies distributions and percentages. The binary logistic and multivariable logistic regression were used in calculating odd ratios and statistical significance, between the independent and dependent variables

Main outcome measures: Given birth for more than four times, history of low birth weight infant, still births, fetal distress, premature onset labor, delivery through cesarean section; number of pregnancies times and attempted abortion.

Results: Mothers with preterm births had a mean age of 26.9 ± 6.4 and mothers with term babies 26.3 ± 6.2 with repose rate of 100%. Times a mother had been pregnant. ; 7.04 [95%CI=1.66-29.82], low birth weight babies; 16.11 [95%CI=4.68–55.41], stillbirths; 12.26 [95%CI=1.71-87.73].Fetal distress; 6.82[95%CI=1.12–41.42] cesarean section; 22.68[95%CI=2.27–226.17] and attempted to abort; 13.66[95%CI=1.03-180.63].were significantly associated with preterm births.

Conclusion: There is therefore need for proper management of antenatal mothers. Further studies to determine factors influencing preterm births.