Determinants of adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women in Kintampo municipal hospital, Ghana

TL;DR

This study identifies factors linked to adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women in a Ghanaian hospital, including unexpected associations like the use of insecticide-treated nets.

Contribution

The study reveals an unexpected positive association between receiving ITNs and adverse birth outcomes, challenging prior assumptions.

Findings

Receiving ITNs was significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes (aOR = 2.03).

Frequent ANC visits reduced the risk of adverse birth outcomes (aOR = 0.32).

Higher partner education was linked to lower risk of adverse birth outcomes (aOR = 0.53).

Abstract

To examine the predictors of adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the Kintampo Municipal Hospital (KMH) in Ghana.

A case-control study was conducted to enrol 408 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at KMH into the study. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Stata version 15 was used to analyse the data. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with ABOs. Level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05.

Factors that were significantly associated with ABOs were: receiving of ITN (aOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.45), at least 8 times visits to ANC (aOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.69), and partner's education (aOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.96).

Contrary to expectations, this study revealed that receiving ITNs during pregnancy was associated with ABOs. Further research is needed to explain why receiving ITNs increases the likelihood of ABOs.