Assessment of the Awareness of Prematurity and Related Problems

Abstract

Aim: Prematurity is an important health problem affecting all segments of society. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of awareness of prematurity and related problems. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of fifteen questions was administered to medical faculty students, pediatric residents, and to laypersons by face to face interviews. The questionnaire applied in the scope of the study had 8 open-ended questions and 7 “yes-no” questions. Results: Of the 150 people who answered the questionnaire, 92 were health workers and the remaining 54 were people from the public. The groups with and without health workers had a similar rate of awareness of the World Prematurity Awareness Day (58.7% vs. 58.6% respectively, p=0.30). All of the health care workers defined prematurity correctly while 89.7% of the laypersons gave the correct definition (p<0.05). People from the public expected the survival of babies with higher birth weight and gestational age and this group was less informed about the short and long-term problems related to prematurity. In both groups, the awareness of physicians specializing in newborn care was low (17.4% vs. 13.8%, p=0.13). The level of awareness of the shortage of specialized physicians and nurses in neonatal care was significantly lower among laypersons than that of health care workers (p values <0.05). Conclusion: Although our study population knew what prematurity was, they lacked knowledge about the complications of prematurity, and the quality and adequacy of the health care teams involved in the care of premature babies.

Keywords

• Newborns
• preterm
• awareness
• mortality
• morbidity