ABSTRACT
Background: Preterm birth, a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, poses significant healthcare challenges globally. Understanding the severity of preterm births and identifying key predictors can enhance clinical management and inform healthcare policies.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the severity of preterm births and identify key predictors in newborns admitted to public hospitals, with the goal of providing actionable insights for healthcare policy and practice.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from March 2023 to February 2024 across multiple public hospitals. The study population comprised 120 preterm newborns. Data on maternal, fetal, and environmental factors were collected through medical records and structured interviews. Severity of preterm birth was assessed using gestational age, birth weight, and neonatal outcomes. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were employed to identify significant predictors of preterm birth severity.
Results: The study included 120 preterm newborns, with a mean gestational age of 32 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1800 grams. Key predictors of preterm birth severity identified were maternal age, prenatal care quality, history of preterm births, and socioeconomic status. Lower maternal age and inadequate prenatal care were strongly associated with increased severity. Neonatal outcomes, including respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage, were more prevalent among newborns with higher severity scores.
Conclusion: The study highlighted significant predictors of preterm birth severity in public hospital settings, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Enhancing prenatal care and addressing socioeconomic disparities could mitigate the severity of preterm births, thereby improving neonatal outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of integrating these predictors into healthcare policies and practices to reduce the burden of preterm births.
Keywords: Preterm birth, neonatal outcomes, healthcare policy, predictors of severity, public hospitals, prenatal care, socioeconomic status, maternal health.