Adverse neonatal outcomes and associated factors among mothers with short and normal interpregnancy interval at Kawempe National Referral Hospital- A comparative cross section study

Abstract

Background: Studies in developed nations have shown that neonates born to pregnant women with short inter-pregnancy interval are at higher risk of prematurity, and low birth weight, perinatal death and other neonatal events when compared to. However, the proportion of adverse neonatal outcome and various factors contributing to adverse neonatal outcomes among women with Short (SIPI) and normal (NIPI) inter-pregnancy intervals are unknown at Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH). Objective: To compare the prevalence of adverse neonatal outcomes and associated factors among mothers with short and normal inter-pregnancy interval at Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH). Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study at KNRH. Participants were consented and enrolled using systematic random sampling. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Logistic regression was used to assess association between adverse neonatal outcome and inter-pregnancy interval as well as other factors. All analyses were 2-sided (p<0.05) with 95% confidence, using STATA version 17 software. Results: A total of 668 participants; 334 each of NIPI and SIPI mothers were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was, the overall prevalence of adverse neonatal outcomes was 31.6….. The prevalence of adverse neonatal outcomes among SIPI and NIPI mothers were 36.8% and 26.1% respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that non-cephalic fetal presentation was independently associated with adverse neonatal outcomes among mothers with short interpregnancy interval (adjusted OR=3.76 (1.56 – 9.06), p=0.003). Among mothers with normal interpregnancy interval still only non-cepahalic fetal presentation was the only factor independently associated with adverse neonatal outcomes (adjusted OR: 3.56 (1.49 – 8.48), p=0.004). Conclusions and recommendation: Mothers with short interpregnancy interval had higher proportion of adverse neonatal outcomes compared normal interpregnancy interval mothers and non-cephalic fetal presentation was found to be significantly associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in both mothers with short and normal interpregnancy interval.