Prevalence and risk factors of Preterm Births in Northern Uganda: A Hospital-Based Study at Lira Regional Referral Hospital

This study aimed to assess the prevalence, proportions of early and late preterm births, and factors associated with preterm births among women delivering at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda. It was a hospitalbased cross-sectional observational and analytic study involving 382 women and their babies, with data collected via questionnaires and analyzed using STATA software version 14.0. Univariate analysis, as well as bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, were conducted to identify factors associated with preterm birth. The mean age of participants was 25.22 years, ranging from 16 to 40 years. The study found a preterm birth prevalence of 16.23% (95% CI: 12.52 – 19.94), with 66.13% (95% CI: 54.01 – 78.25) of preterm births categorized as late preterm and 33.87% (95% CI: 21.75 – 45.99) as early preterm. Factors independently associated with preterm birth included maternal age of 16 – 23 years (aOR 6.90, 95% CI: 2.08 – 22.94, P=0.002), antepartum hemorrhage (aOR 4.75, 95% CI: 1.82 – 12.40, P=0.001), prolonged pre-labor rupture of membranes (PROM) (aOR 5.70, 95% CI: 2.00 – 16.21, P=0.001), hemoglobin level <10g/dl (aOR 20.64, 95% CI: 6.19 – 68.89, P<0.001), and hypertension (aOR 7.51, 95% CI: 2.72 – 20.75, P<0.001). In conclusion, the preterm birth rate at Lira Regional Referral Hospital was 16.23%, with maternal age, antepartum hemorrhage, prolonged PROM, low hemoglobin levels, and hypertension identified as significant risk factors. Recognizing these risk factors can enhance awareness of high-risk pregnancies, improve preventive measures, and modify preterm care protocols in neonatal units.