Factors Influencing Preterm Births in Zimbabwe, A Case of Westend Hospital, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The rise in preterm births at West End in the past five years at West End has raised concerns. The research sought to understand the contributing factors to preterm births at one of the biggest hospitals in Zimbabwe. Utilizing a descriptive research design, the research provides statistical distribution of responses from various mothers who were conveniently sampled at the hospital Using a Rao soft sample calculator a total of 80 participants were sampled. Data was collected using a questionnaire with three sections namely: demographic data, factors that contribute to preterm births and the last section which covered possible ways of reducing preterm births. The collected data was analyzed. The study findings showed that 41% of the majority of the women were between the age of 31 and 35 years of age, 66% were married and 62% showed that they had gone through secondary education. The study findings also show that there is a lack of proper and standard prenatal care to the hospital and this has been contributing to preterm births as shown by the 40.2% of the respondents. More so, 34.8% of the respondents in the study found out that maternal smoking, while 60.9% showed that stress during pregnancy and previous preterm births were also among the causes of preterm births. The preterm births had a number of effects including delays in the cognitive development of a child as indicated with a 70.4%, with 19.2% respiratory distress syndrome and motor sensory impairment among others. In order to provide a solution to rising preterm births , the study recommends that there is need to continue educating the nurses and midwives through workshops and seminars or on job training ensure to quality service delivery and reduce number of preterm births and here is need for the Ministry of Health and Child Care in conjunction with hospital management to come up with strategies to motivate nurses and midwives through provision of incentives to nurses/midwives’ order for them to have a positive attitude towards pregnant mothers and ensure that they are educated and attended to in detail when they come for ANC.