Abstract:
Background: Globally, preterm birth is major public health problem which has high burden of health impacts, economic costs and also lost of productivity due to long time Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the magnitudes of preterm birth and its associated factors in Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, North Shao Zone, and Amhara, Ethiopia.
Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from February to April, 2020. Systematic random sampling was used to select 325 study participants. The data were collected using both face to face interview and chart review with a pretested semi-structured questioner. Epi data version 3.1 and SPSS version 20 were used for data entry and analysis. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify candidate variables at P-values <0.2 and in multivariate logistic regression model variables with p-value<0.05 were considered a statistically significant.
Result: The study involved 316 mothers and their mean age was 28.86 years with a standard deviation ±6.3 years. The magnitude of preterm birth Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital was 16.1%. During multivariate logistic regression analysis Cesarean section [AOR= 2.412; 95%CI (1.154, 5.0370)], twins pregnancy [AOR=3.524; 95%CI (1.114, 11.150)] and maternal anemia during pregnancy [AOR=3.124; 95%CI (1.417, 6.887] were statisticaly significant association with premature birth.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The magnitude of preterm birth in the study area was high as compared to Global Action Report for Sub-Saharan Africa which was 12.3%. Efforts should be strengthened to reducing provider or self-initiated Caesarean Delivery without clear evidence of maternal-fetal benefits and to supplement iron with folic acid for all pregnant mothers as early as possible is considered as recommendation.
