Assessing knowledge on factors associated with premature birth at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi

Mijoya, Precious; Kanyang’ama, Chancy; Thindwa, Robert M

Assessing knowledge on factors associated with premature birth at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi

Date

2021-02-08

Authors

Mijoya, Precious

Kanyang’ama, Chancy

Thindwa, Robert M

Publisher

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Abstract

Recent estimates indicate that there are 15 million preterm new-borns annually and the number is increasing each year. South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa accounts for almost twothirds of the world’s preterm new-borns and over three-quarters of the world’s new-born deaths due to preterm birth complications. In 2010, a review of reported preterm birth rates from 184 countries found Malawi to have highest rate at 18.1%. Preterm birth in Malawi has been found to be associated with adolescent pregnancy (age < 20), mother’s low mean body mass index (BMI), severe anaemia and Malaria at least once during pregnancy. Women with persistent malaria, previous preterm delivery and previous still birth had more proportion of preterm birth. However, this does not explain about the knowledge on factors associated with premature births in Malawi among mothers with premature babies, their guardians and health workers. This is a qualitative cross-sectional study on assessing knowledge on factors associated with premature birth at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. The participants in this study will be selected using cluster sampling technique. The main objective of this research study is to assess the knowledge of mothers with premature babies, their guardians, doctors, nurses and midwives on factors associated with preterm birth. Data will be collected using interview guides which will assess what people think are the factors associated with preterm delivery and how they get information about preterm delivery. The data will be analyzed using content analysis method. At the end of this study we expect to find out knowledge (as how much people know) on factors associated with pre mature birth. Dissemination of the results will be done at the research dissemination conference organized by the research coordinator at College of Medicine.