Maternal Risk Factors Associated With Neonatal Outcome in Primiparous, Machala, Ecuador

Tania Diciana Arevalo Cordova1, Brigida Maritza Agudo Gonzabay2, Jorge Armando García Maldonado2

  • 1Medicine/Medical Science Career, Technical University of Machala, Machala, ECU.

Cureus
|February 23, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal age, education, and abortion history significantly impact neonatal outcomes in first-time mothers. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for improving newborn health and development.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Neonatal birth weight is a key indicator of a newborn's health, influencing long-term growth and development.
  • Preterm delivery is linked to maternal risk factors including anemia, adolescent pregnancy, and advanced maternal age.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify maternal risk factors associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in primiparous women.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, observational, quantitative, longitudinal, non-experimental study.
  • Data collected from 224 primiparous women (September 2021-August 2022) using Microsoft Excel.
  • Statistical analysis performed with SPSS version 26.

Main Results:

  • Most newborns (97.8%) were term, with 69.9% normal weight and 96.4% having Apgar scores of 8-10.
  • Adolescent/elderly mothers and maternal comorbidity increased odds of low Apgar scores (OR 2.180, 2.0612).
  • History of previous abortions significantly correlated with low/high birth weight (OR 8.6000, p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Key maternal factors influencing neonatal outcomes in primiparous women include educational level, age, prenatal visit frequency, and prior abortion history.
  • These factors highlight critical areas for targeted prenatal care and intervention strategies.
  • Further research may elucidate the precise mechanisms linking these factors to neonatal health.