Title: Risk factors associated with preterm birth among mothers delivered at Lira Regional Referral Hospital

Introduction

The World Health Organization defines Preterm Birth (PTB) as “a live birth taking place before the expected 37 weeks of gestation”. Annually, approximately 15 million infants are born prematurely, constituting significantly to infant mortality during the initial four weeks of life, responsible for 40% of deaths among children under the age of five. Evidently, preterm deliveries have contributed to 46% of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) over the past three years. Paradoxically, while the prevalence of preterm births remains high, there is a lack of documented information regarding the underlying risk factors. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to assess the potential risk factors associated with preterm birth at LRRH.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional research was undertaken at LRRH, employing a quantitative methodology. The study utilized secondary data obtained from maternal medical records of deliveries that occurred at the facility between April 2020 and July 2021. The collected data underwent analysis using STATA version 17 software. A Logistic regression model was applied to identify predictors of PTB, yielding adjusted odds ratios (AOR) alongside 95% confidence intervals (CI). The significance level was set at p < 0.05 to establish statistical significance. Assessments for multicollinearity and model fitness were conducted using the Variance Inflation Factor and linktest respectively.

Results

The prevalence of preterm delivery among mothers who gave birth at LRRH stood at 35.8%. The outcomes of logistic regression analysis revealed that maternal employment status had a significant association with preterm birth (AOR = 0.657, p = 0.037, 95%CI: 0.443–0.975); having a baby with low birth weight (AOR = 0.228, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.099–0.527) and experiencing preeclampsia (AOR = 0.142, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.088–0.229) were also identified as significant predictors of preterm birth in the study.

Conclusions

The occurrence of preterm delivery is significantly higher (35.8%) among mothers delivered at LRRH when compared to the national average (13.6%). The prevalence of preterm birth was linked to factors such as employment status, delivery of low birth weight infants, and the presence of preeclampsia. Consequently, the research recommended that the Ministry of Health should evaluate the present state of readiness within the healthcare system to effectively handle cases of preterm birth both within medical facilities and the community. Also the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development should leverage Labor Officers to implement and uphold the regulations stipulated in the Employment Act and Labor Laws.

Etil Tom is a highly skilled statistician and development planner with a strong track record of enhancing institutional performance and optimizing resource utilization. With a deep expertise in data analysis and strategic planning, he has been instrumental in shaping policies and driving evidence-based decision-making.

Currently serving as the District Planner at Otuke District Local Government, Etil plays a pivotal role in developing comprehensive development plans, budgets, and work plans. His contributions extend to monitoring and evaluating projects, producing insightful reports, and managing data collection and analysis to support effective governance and service delivery. His commitment to data-driven planning has significantly improved development outcomes in the district.

Etil holds a Master of Statistics and a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Economics from Makerere University. Additionally, he has earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Uganda Management Institute, complementing his expertise in strategic planning. His academic foundation also includes a Diploma in Education (Secondary) from the Institute of Teachers’ Education, Kyambogo, reflecting his passion for knowledge dissemination and capacity building.

With a career dedicated to fostering sustainable development, Etil Tom continues to be a driving force in using statistics and planning to create impactful change. His analytical expertise, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset in the field of public administration and development planning.