International Science and Technology Journal

Infants are considered as premature or preterm when they are born before 37 weeks. The prematurity is one of the major health problems and the leading cause of neonatal mortality. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of prematurity and it is effect on mortality and morbidity. The research is a prospective study was conducted over one year period from July 2018 to July 2019, at neonatal care unit (NCU) in Al-Bayda medical center-Libya, the study included premature admitted patient (50 patients) who were randomly selected during this period. Results revealed that 64% of patients were males, while the rest were females (36%). The normal vaginal delivery mode represented 68 % of the cases while 32 % of infants were delivered by cesarean section. With 38 (76%) of single birth and 12 (24%) multiple births. Forty percent had body weight less than 1.5 kg. Multiple pregnancies were seen in 24% of patient, congenital anomalies were observed in 18% of cases. The most common complications were neonatal jaundice 92% followed by respiratory distress 90%, hypoglycemia in 54% and 40% of preterm infants had sepsis .The most common associated maternal risk were urinary tract infection (UTI), premature rupture of membrane (PROM), passive smoker, stressful life style, anemia, family history of preterm labour and preeclampsia (PET) (82%, 62%, 56%, 52%, 36%, 28% and 24%) respectively. Deaths constituted 42.8% of admitted premature infants with observed differences in the mortality with respect to risk factors were statistically significant to the patients weight (p=0.017). The preterm infants remain vulnerable to many early complications including neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia and sepsis. It is important to raise public and professional awareness of the problems related to prematurity. An interdisciplinary team involving pediatrician and an obstetrician is important for counseling mothers who have a need for premature delivery. Delaying infant delivery until at least 38 weeks of gestation is recommended in order to reduce the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Keywords: Preterm infant, Risk factors, Short term complications, Libya, Al-Bayda.