Identification of Preterm Birth Risk Factors and Appraisal of Role of Clinical Pharmacist in Preventing Preterm Births -A Prospective Interventional Study

Background:  Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborns deaths and the second leading cause of the death in children under five years old. It is continued to be a major cause of prenatal and neonatal morbidity. The aim of the present study was to identify the maternal risk factors associated with preterm birth in the tertiary care hospital, a major  target for obstetric health care Methods: A prospective- interventional study was conducted in the department of gynecology during the period of November 2020- April 2021. Women who delivered a preterm baby (26-37 weeks gestation) were included in this study. Patients signed up for the study were put through a detailed history with respect to age, parity, previous pregnancy outcomes, and other medical disorders, including the presence of GDH, PIH, anemia, infections to identify the presence of any risk factors in the pregnancy. Results: The study showed the incidence of preterm to be 7.81%. The maximum number of cases belonged to the maternal age group of 18-34 years and the mothers with consanguineous marriage. Around 26% of the women present with PIH  and 21% of women with a history of abortions as a risk factor. The other major risk factors found to be associated with preterm labor are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy like preeclampsia, eclampsia, GDM, anemia, APH, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, mother own h/o PTB, psychological stress. Conclusion: The commonest risk factor was pregnancy-induced hypertension, followed by the maternal history of abortions and consanguineous marriage. The other significant risk factors include eclampsia, preeclampsia, oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, antepartum hemorrhage, leakage of amniotic fluid, mothers' own history of prematurity, inadequate antenatal care, psychological stress