The Preterm Birth Rate in a Resource-Stricken Rural Area of the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Midwives play a pivotal role in providing primary prevention of preterm birth. Midwives screen and diagnose preexisting medical conditions, manage all conditions as guided by their scope of practice and refer all cases to other relevant team members. Purpose:The study aimed to determine and describe factors contributing to the escalating preterm birth rate in Limpopo, South Africa. Methods: Descriptive survey was used to determine factors related to increased preterm births. The non-probability purposive sampling selected 55 midwives, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 23. Results: Health facilities in Limpopo province had constrained resources as evidenced by a shortage of midwives, a lack of medical supply, poorly maintained, and old infrastructure. The skills of midwives and their working environment were affected by this constrained resource. The results from midwives that were perceived to affect them were 66% of participants reported lack of equipment, 29.1% participants agreed that pregnant women were presenting after 12 weeks to initiate antenatal care, while 45.3% pointed out they used steroids to prevent preterm labor. Record-keeping was viewed as an essential aspect to manage PTB when providing care. Despite the constrained resources, midwives were providing care to prevent PTB. This was evidenced by 78.2% agreeing that keep records from the first booking until the last antenatal visit, while 96.2% monitored the fetal heart rate, 98.1% screened for infections, and 90.9% referred all women at risk to the doctor. Thus, most of the midwives were competent with a confidence interval of (95%) and a prevalence of 9% and 9.5% that, is 9/10, which could prevent PTB. Conclusion: Lack of resources, including staffing and specialized care, contributed to escalating PTB at health facilities in Limpopo province.

Differential DHA and EPA Levels in Women with Preterm and Term Births: A Tertiary Hospital Study in Indonesia

“…Access to health services and the presence of health workers who can help mothers must also be considered [ 25 – 27 ]. A study conducted by Malwela et al [ 28 ], in rural areas in South Africa, shows that the cause of the increasing incidence of preterm births is the availability of equipment, which is less than 40%, making preterm births unpreventable. This is also related to research by Pervin et al, in which pregnant women rarely had ANC [ 26 ].…”

“…This is in accordance with research by Li et al, whose results showed weak differences in the risk of preterm birth among five urban-rural types [ 27 ]. In addition, ANC screening also has a positive influence in detecting some pregnancy complications, and this can trigger the offer of perinatal treatment to improve outcomes and prognosis for prematurity [ 28 ]. In accordance with research conducted by Beeckman et al shows that women without antenatal care are at higher risk for preterm birth.…”

“…The fetus’s only supply of this fatty acid comes from the mother’s body’s storage of EPA and DHA. The growing intrauterine fetus actively receives both EPA and DHA through the placenta [ 25 – 28 ]. Therefore, women with adequate omega-3 intake early in pregnancy should maintain such intake.…”

Exploring the Impact of Religion, Superstition, and Professional Cultural Competence on Access to HIV and Mental Health Treatment Among Black Sub-Sahara African Communities in the English City of Birmingham

“…Indeed, many religions classify homosexual behavior, sex work, and drug use as immoral, which are behaviors often associated with HIV and mental health. As a result, church members may promote HIV and mental health stigma through moralistic attitudes and conservative ideologies (Malwela, 2019;Campbell et al, 2011). In many BSSA communities, religious leaders are seen as powerful gatekeepers who control what happens within their communities (Nyashanu & Serrant, 2016).…”

Parental experiences of caring for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, Limpopo Province: a descriptive qualitative study exploring the cultural determinants

“…Despite the recognition of the importance of parental involvement in NICU care and the documented emotional challenges experienced by parents, there is a gap in the literature regarding the specific experiences and cultural practices of parents caring for preterm infants which can be integrated in NICU in settings, such as Limpopo Province in South Africa. The province has seen a significant increase in the number of newborn babies weighing under 2,500 grams in recent years [ 19 ]. The study aimed to explore and describe the cultural determinants of parents that can be integrated into the care of preterm infants admitted to the NICU in Limpopo Province to ensure culturally sensitive care.…”