title: Risk factors for premature births: a cross-sectional analysis of hospital records in a Cameroonian health facility.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for preterm births in the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Cameroon, and to describe their outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study of hospital records over eight years. The incidence of prematurity was 26.5 % of admissions over a period of 7 years 7 months. After controlling for confounding factors, we identified attending antenatal care visits in a health centre (Odds ratio [OR] 6.19; 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.15 - 33.22; p = 0.033), having a urinary tract infection (OR 39.04; 95% CI 17.19 - 88.62; p < 0.001), multiple gestation (OR 3.82; 95% CI 2.68 - 5.43; p <0.001) and congenital malformations (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.24 - 6.22; p = 0.013) increased the odds of preterm birth. On the other hand being a student mother (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.20 - 0.98; p = 0.047), being married (OR 0.40 95% CI 0.19 - 0.84; p = 0.016) and more antenatal visits (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.15 - 0.35; p <0.001) reduced the odds of preterm birth Neonatal mortality in these preterm neonates was 36.6%, in which 69% occurred in the early neonatal period. The main causes of death were neonatal infections (27.6%), neonatal asphyxia (11.9%) and congenital malformations (10.3%). We recommend enhanced prenatal care and management of pathologies which arise during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon. andy_chiabi@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiabi
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mvondo
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Seraphin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguefack
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mbuagbaw
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kamga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shiyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mboudou
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Pierre F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tchokoteu
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors