Risk Factors Associated with Premature Births in Erbil City: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: Premature birth is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among newborn babies. There are many factors that induce prematurity. This study aims to investigate the common risk factors associated with premature births in Erbil City. Methods: Quantitative design, descriptive-analytic analysis and a retrospective study were used. The study was conducted at Raparin Teaching Hospital for Children (RTHC) in Erbil city from September 1st, 2021 to September 1st, 2022. To engage in the study, non-probability purposive sample of 510 mother-newborn pairs admitted to a premature intensive care unit (255 as case group, 255 as a control group) was taken. The statistical analysis program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 was used to analyze the data. Results: The study reveals that the educational level, economic status, Body Mass Index of the mother and types of delivery have a highly significant association with the moth-er’s socio-demographic characteristics at a p-value of 0.008, < 0.001, 0.019 and < 0.001respectively. The study found a highly differences between: risk factors during pregnancy among study and control groups, including gestational hypertension, gesta-tional diabetes mellitus, Urinary Tract Infection (UTIs), anemia, vaginal bleeding, preterm premature rupture of membranes, thyroid disease, psychological problems, infection with covid-19, polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios, at p-value of < 0.001 respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, thyroid diseases, psychological problems, COVID-19, Premature rapture of the mem-brane, polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios are the main factors behind premature births in Erbil city.

Keywords

• Risk Factors
• Premature Birth
• Uterine Hemorrhage
• Urinary Tract Infection