Maternal and neonatal outcomes of preterm birth in a public maternity hospital in Teresina, Piauí: a cross-sectional study, 2020 to 2021

Abstract

Objective: To analyze maternal and neonatal outcomes of preterm birth in a public maternity hospital in Teresina, Piauí. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study on data from 204 medical records of women who progressed to preterm birth in the obstetric center of a public maternity hospital in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, between December 2020 and January 2021. Results: Maternal sociodemographic characterization: 20 to 29 years old (52.5%), brown race/color (74%), complete high school (53.4%), residents of the state of Piauí (51.5%), cesarean delivery (74%). The most common pregnancy complication was urinary tract infection (45.1%). Regarding the clinical characteristics of the newborns, the following data were detected: female newborns (52.9%), with birth age ≥28 weeks (83.3%), low birth weight (41.2%), good vitality at 5 minutes in the APGAR assessment (89.7%), small for gestational age (51%), resuscitated at birth (55.2%), respiratory distress syndrome (64.2%). Regarding the final outcome, 53 (26.0%) of the newborns admitted to the high-risk Neonatal Intensive Care Unit died and 151 (74%) were transferred to Intermediate Intensive Care Units, kangaroo ward, rooming-in or hospital discharge. Conclusion: Unqualified care for pregnant women results in newborn morbidity and mortality, thus representing a serious public health problem.