Determinants of Preterm Birth Among Mothers Delivered Babies in Bale Zone Hospitals

Background: Preterm birth is defined as the birth of a baby alive before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth is an important public health problem because it is associated with increased risks of neonatal illness, disability, and mortality. Objective: The main objective of this study was to identify and prioritize significant risk factors associated with preterm birth among mothers who delivered babies in hospitals in Bale and East Bale Zones. Design: A case-control study was conducted to assess factors associated with preterm birth. Participants: A total of 533 selected mothers who delivered babies from January to December 2024 in hospitals located in Bale and East Bale Zones were included in the study. Main Outcome: The main outcome of the study was to identify significant risk factors associated with preterm birth. Results: Of the 533 mothers who participated in the study, 91 (17.1%) experienced preterm birth. Several factors were significantly associated with preterm birth, including maternal age, place of residence, antenatal care (ANC), previous history of preterm birth, hypertension (HTN), gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), urinary tract infection (UTI), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), pregnancy type, child birth weight, birth outcomes, and pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: Residence in pastoralist communities, previous history of preterm birth, and gestational diabetes mellitus were among the strongest factors associated with preterm birth in the study population.