KUMJ | VOL. 16 | NO. 3 | ISSUE 63 | JULY-SEPT. 2018
Risk Factors and Clinical Profile of Preterm Deliveries at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital
Poudyal P, Joshi A, Bastakoti R, KC D, Shrestha RPB, Shrestha PS
Abstract: Background
Preterm delivery is one of the major determinants of neonatal morbidity and
mortality and has long term adverse health outcomes.
Objective
To study the risk factors of preterm deliveries and the clinical profile of preterm
births presenting to a tertiary center in Kavre district.
Method
A hospital based prospective study was carried out in the Department of Pediatrics
and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre from 1
April 2016 to 31
st
October 2017.
Result
Study included 152 babies born premature and attending Dhulikhel Hospital. There
were 5.26% babies less than 1000 grams and the least weight being 700 grams.
Majority of the premature babies were male (57.24%). Most of the babies were in
the gestational age of 28 to 32 weeks (60%). Steroids were given to 42.10% of the
cases. Mode of delivery was vaginal route (60.53%) followed by cesearean section
in 37.50%. Hyperbilirubinemia (53.29%), neonatal sepsis (46.05%) and respiratory
distress syndrome (43.42%) were the commonest morbid conditions. Among the 152
cases, mortality was seen in 13.82%. The minimum weight to have survived was 900
grams. The most common modifiable risk factors responsible for preterm birth in
mother were inadequate antenatal visits (29.60%), history of premature rupture of
membranes (28.29%), history of urinary tract infection (21.05%) and weight less than
45 kg (14.47%). The non modifiable risk factors were mothers with blood group A
(33.55%) and height of less than 145 cm (20.40%).
Conclusion
The modifiable risk factors such as inadequate antenatal visits, history of premature
rupture of the membranes and urinary tract infection and under weighing mothers
can be corrected by early interventions and preventive measures which will help in
reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Keyword : Morbidity, Preterm, Prevention, Risk factors
