Outcome of preterm babies and associated risk factors in a hospital

Preterm birth is a major problem associated with maximum perinatal mortality and morbidity in developed and developing countries. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors associated with preterm birth and to study morbidities and mortality.

A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on 164 cases of preterm babies admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from January, 2007 to December, 2009

Incidence of preterm birth was 19.5%. Mean birth weight was 1670 +/- 370 grams and mean gestational age was 30.02 +/- 0.37 weeks. Common risk factor associated with preterm birth were inadequate antenatal checkup (52%), maternal age <20 years (34.7%), ante partum hemorrhage (23.4%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (13.1%). Common morbidities were clinical sepsis (66.7%), hyperbilirubinemia (58.8%), birth asphyxia (26.8%) and hyaline membrane disease (23.5%). Overall survival was 79.4% with minimum age of survival of 880 grams. The mortality rate in extremely low birth rate and very low birth rate was 80% and 39.5% respectively. The common causes of death were hyaline membrane disease (64.5%), sepsis (58.06%) and necrotizing enterocolitis (25.8%).

The main risk factors for preterm delivery were inadequate antenatal check up, maternal age <20 years, antepartum hemorrhage and pregnancy induced hypertension. The most common morbidity was clinical sepsis followed by hyperbilirubinemia. Common causes of death were hyaline membrane disease and sepsis.