Epidemiology, Risk Determinants, And Clinical Outcomes Of Singleton Preterm Births At Lagos Island Maternity, Lagos, Nigeria

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos

2 Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology. Kingswill Specialist Hospital, FESTAC Town, Lagos

3 Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, Lagos STATE University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja

4 Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

5 Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm birth is a major public health problem and a significant contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality globally and especially in resource-poor settings such as Nigeria. While preterm birth rates are known to be high in Sub-Saharan Africa, current data are insufficient to comprehensively explain the contributing factors in this region. This study aims to explore the prevalence, risk determinants, and clinical outcomes of singleton preterm births in Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: This is a retrospective study done over a triennium, between January 2021 and December 2023.
Results: Out of 9180 singleton birth, there were 1828 (19.9%) preterm deliveries. Due to incomplete records, 21 patients were deliberately omitted from the analysis. 1760 (97.4%) were live births while 47 (2.6%) were stillbirths. In addition, of the live births, the majority, 1043 (59.3%), were Moderate-to-late Preterm, followed by 537 (30.5%) who were Very Preterm and 180 (10.2%) were Extremely Preterm. 963 (54.7%) were admitted to the Neonatal Ward, 649 (36.4%) were asphyxiated in the fifth minute of life. Neonatal death occurred in 224 cases (12.7%). Preterm deliveries were higher among multiparous women, women without antenatal booking, and those with hypertensive pregnancy disorders.
Conclusion: The prevalence of preterm deliveries among singleton pregnancies was 19.9% and remains a significant contributor to perinatal mortality. Identified risk factors for preterm birth included multiparity, absence of antenatal care, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Keywords

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Reviews in Clinical Medicine
Volume 12, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 196-202

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