Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Aug;131(Suppl 3):30-41.
doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17869. Epub 2024 May 31.

Determinants and outcomes of preterm births in Nigerian tertiary facilities

Iretiola Bamikeolu Fajolu  1 , Iyabode Olabisis Florence Dedeke  2 , Timothy A Oluwasola  3 , Lawal Oyeneyin  4 , Zainab Imam  5 , Ezra Ogundare  6 , Ibijoke Campbell  7 , Bola Akinkunmi  8 , Ekundayo O Ayegbusi  9 , Efeturi Agelebe  10 , Ayodeji K Adefemi  11 , David Awonuga  12 , Olusoji Jagun  13 , Qasim Salau  14 , Bankole Kuti  15 , Olukemi Oluwatoyin Tongo  16 , Tajudeen Adebayo  17 , Damilola Adebanjo-Aina  18 , Emmanuel Adenuga  19 , Idowu Adewumi  20 , Tina Lavin  21 , Jamilu Tukur  22 , Olubukola Adesina  3
Affiliations

Determinants and outcomes of preterm births in Nigerian tertiary facilities

Iretiola Bamikeolu Fajolu et al. BJOG. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the incidence, and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected through the Maternal Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) Programme.

Setting: Data from births in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020.

Population: A total of 69 698 births.

Methods: Multilevel modelling was used to determine the factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality.

Outcome measures: Preterm birth and preterm perinatal mortality.

Results: Of 62 383 live births, 9547 were preterm (153 per 1000 live births). Maternal age (<20 years - adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.71; >35 years - aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30), no formal education (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.54-1.84), partner not gainfully employed (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61-2.34) and no antenatal care (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 2.42-2.84) were associated with preterm births. Early neonatal mortality for preterm neonates was 47.2 per 1000 preterm live births (451/9547). Father's occupation (manual labour aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.83), no antenatal care (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 2.04-3.67), earlier gestation (28 to <32 weeks - aOR 2.94, 95% CI 2.15-4.10; 32 to <34 weeks - aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.3-2.44) and birthweight <1000 g (aOR 21.35, 95% CI 12.54-36.33) were associated with preterm perinatal mortality.

Conclusions: Preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria are high. Efforts should be made to enhance access to quality health care during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period, and improve the parental socio-economic status.

Keywords: Nigeria; clinical determinants; mortality; premature births; sociodemographics.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Blencowe H, Cousens S, Chou D, Oestergaard M, Say L, Moller AB, et al. Born too soon: the global epidemiology of 15 million preterm births. Reprod Health. 2013;10(SUPPL. 1):S2.
    1. Butali A, Ezeaka C, Ekhaguere O, Weathers N, Ladd J, Fajolu I, et al. Characteristics and risk factors of preterm births in a tertiary center in Lagos, Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J. 2016;24:1.
    1. Ohuma EO, Moller AB, Bradley E, Chakwera S, Hussain‐Alkhateeb L, Lewin A, et al. National, regional, and global estimates of preterm birth in 2020, with trends from 2010: a systematic analysis [published correction appears in Lancet. 2024 Feb 17;403(10427):618]. Lancet. 2023;402(10409):1261–1271.
    1. Lawn JE, Ohuma EO, Bradley E, Idueta LS, Hazel E, Okwaraji YB, et al. Small babies, big risks: global estimates of prevalence and mortality for vulnerable newborns to accelerate change and improve counting. Lancet. 2023;401(10389):1707–1719. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140‐6736(23)00522‐6
    1. Kunle‐Olowu OE, Peterside O, Adeyemi OO. Prevalence and outcome of preterm admissions at the neonatal unit of a tertiary health centre in Southern Nigeria. Open J Pediatr. 2014;4(1):67–75.

LinkOut - more resources