Publication:

Preterm Births and Associated Factors among Women who Delivered in a District Hospital in Eastern Province, Rwanda: A retrospective study

Background Preterm birth is the primary cause of infant fatalities and is a global public health issue. In 2020, approximately 13.4 million babies were born preterm globally. Preterm birth was potentially associated with different socio-demographic factors as well as clinical and gynaeco-obstetrical factors. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of preterm births and factors associated with them among women who delivered in Gahini District Hospital. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional retrospective study design and the sample size was 312 mothers. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. Univariate and bivariate analysis with Chi-square tests were performed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to figure out factors that were independently associated with preterm birth. Results This research revealed that the preterm birth prevalence in Gahini hospital was 9.6% and independently associated factors included mothers’ age >35 (AOR: 9.56; 95% CI: 1.38–66.33), being unmarried (AOR: 18.19, 95% CI: 2.96–111.59) and maternal BMI of 25–30 (AOR: 6.25, 95% CI: 1.34–29.12). Conclusion Preterm birth was found to be associated with different factors. Therefore, intervention strategies related to maternal and child health need to be developed and strengthened to address factors associated with preterm births.