Ashfaq Ahmad, Ihsanul Haq, Noorul Hadi, Hamayun, Ahmad Ali, Israr-ul Haq.
Socioeconomic and Maternal Risk factors for Pre-Term Births in District Swat.
J Saidu Med Col Jan ;8(2):166-70.

Background: Pre-Term Birth is the single most important cause of Neonatal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and has substantial health and economic impact on our society and health facilities. Objective: To determine various socioeconomic and maternal risk factors for Pre-Term births, in our population. Materials & Method: This is descriptive Cross sectional study conducted in Neonatal ICU, Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching hospital, Swat, From January 2017 to June 2017. A total of 176 newborns (age <37 weeks) were included in our study. The data was collected by random and convenience sampling. Results: Total number of Pre-Term birth included were 176 with frequency of5.6%.55.1% were male and 44.9% were female. Majority 128(72.7%) of newborn mothers were between 15-35 years of age. 81.2%of preterm Birth mothers were illiterate.74.4% mothers belonged to poor families. Majority of cases have history of PROM (40.3%), previous premature babies (38%),Low Birth weight Babies (30.1%) and Antepartum Hemorrhage (35.7%). 46.1% of mothers were Primigravida, 30.1%with more than 4 gravidity and 23.8% less than 4 gravidity. 65.3% have time interval less than 2 years between two pregnancies. UTI was found common with 34.6%, followed by Anemia 30.6% and pregnancy induced hypertension 30.1% in mothers. Eclampsia/preeclampsia, Diabetes mellitus and Fibroids were the least reported risk factors with 6.2%, 5.1% and 2.2% respectively. Conclusions: Poverty, illiteracy, young age mothers, rural areas and no antenatal care were major socioeconomic risk factors for PTB and these all are interrelated. Maternal risk factors like UTI, Anemia, and Pregnancy Induced Hypertension are the treatable causes for Pre-Term births.

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