Poverty, single motherhood main causes of premature births

By Allan Kisia

About 12 premature births are recorded at the Kakamega Provincial General Hospital every month.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Aduro Kidaha, however, says the number is normal because the institution is a referral hospital.

Dr Kidaha notes that the common causes of premature births are hypertension and malaria during pregnancy.

A premature baby, or preemie, is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Researchers have also cited poverty, low education and single motherhood as likely causes.

Deputy Provincial Nursing Officer Fredrick Osundwa says a provincial hospital should have at least ten incubators, but the Kakamega one has six.

"We got ten but four were faulty," he said. Premature births weigh less than full-term babies.

They may have health problems because their organs do not get enough time to develop. They need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit, where they stay until the organ systems can work on their own.

Dr Osundwa adds that district hospitals should have at least five incubators.

Upgraded hospitals

In 2007, more administrative units were created and now Western Province has 19 districts. But few hospitals have been upgraded to district level.

Only recently, the Western Provincial Director of Medical Services and Sanitation Simon Kibias disclosed that CDF-sponsored health centres were idle. He said most operated below capacity due to shortage of staff and poor facilities.

Women having their first child are twice as likely to deliver prematurely. The extent to which women use prenatal care services and their nutritional status determine babies’ size at birth.

Significant progress has, however, been made in the care of premature infants, but not in reducing the prevalence of pre-term birth.