PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alghadier, Mshari
AU  - Alasraj, Muneera
AU  - Elnaggar, Ragab
AU  - Alazmi, Mashael
AU  - Aldawsari, Asma
AU  - Alnadah, Saud
AU  - Alqahtani, Faisal
AU  - Zaghamir, Donia
TI  - A cross-sectional analysis of preterm birth incidence and survival in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2024.45.7.20240194
DP  - 2024 Jul 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 710--718
VI  - 45
IP  - 7
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/7/710.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/45/7/710.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2024 Jul 01; 45
AB  - Objectives: To understand the prevalence and survival rates of preterm birth (PTB) is of utmost importance in informing healthcare planning, improving neonatal care, enhancing maternal and infant health, monitoring long-term outcomes, and guiding policy and advocacy efforts.Methods: The medical records of preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a diagnosis of prematurity at the Maternity and Children’s Hospital (MCH), Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed between January 2018 and December 2022. Data were collected on birth weight (BW), gender, number of live births, gestational age, mortality, nationality, APGAR score, length of stay in the NICU, and maternal details.Results: A total of 9809 live births were identified between 2018 and 2022, of which 139 (3.9%) were born preterm. The overall mortality rate of the included sample was 7.19%, whereas the mortality rate according to BW was 38.4% of those born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW). The most common intrapartum complications were malpresentation (15.1%), placental complications (4.3%), and cord complications (3.6%).Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of PTB in the country, particularly focusing on the vulnerability of extremely preterm babies.