Hypertension, stress, poor nutrition responsible for high premature births in Nigeria – Experts

Hypertension, stress and poor nutrition in pregnant women accounts for large numbers of premature (also known as per term) births in Nigeria, experts say.

The experts who spoke at the Blue Baby Support Initiative awareness programme to mark this year’s World Prematurity Day on Saturday, November 17, 2018 say that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of premature births globally.

“Premature births are high risk condition associated with significant mortality and morbidity in the perinatal, neonatal and childhood periods,” says Olanike Olutekunbi, consultant neonatologist at Massey Street Children Hospital.

“The major causes of premature births in Nigeria are hypertension, diabetes, stress, poor nutrition, cervical competence, infection and congenital abnormally among others,” Olutekunbi says.

She urges the Federal Government to raise more awareness through health education to drastically reduce deaths resulting from prematurity in the country.

She notes that quality care before, between and during pregnancies will also help reduce the rates of premature births in Nigeria.

Olutekunbi also states that the country can drastically reduce its maternal and infant mortality rate to the barest minimum through collaborative efforts by the government and the public sector.

Currently, Nigeria is ranked the third country with the greatest number of premature births, the National Association of Paediatric Nurses says.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 15 million babies were born too early yearly that is one in every 10 babies.

Chika Marizu a nurse at Massey Street Children Hospital says that the prevention of the major causes of premature births by mothers will drastically reduce the rate of infant mortality in Nigeria.

Marizu calls for the consumption of nutritious foods by mothers, while she adds that proper diet helps in reducing the occurrence of prematurity.

“Mothers of premature babies need to be informed on giving care to the child and should regularly visit the hospitals for check-up,” she says.

“The government need to provide modern technology for the care of premature babies to increase their survival rates,” she adds.

Josephine Okojie