Teen pregnancy driving surge in premature births in Bungoma County

Bungoma County continues to grapple with a high prevalence of teenage pregnancies, a situation identified as a significant contributor to premature births.

Many pregnant teenagers fail to receive adequate care, further compounding the issue.

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, 19 per cent of births in Bungoma County were premature, with teenage mothers being the primary contributors.

Speaking at Bungoma County Referral Hospital during World Prematurity Day, Dr Dickens Lubanga, a paediatrician at the facility, highlighted that many preterm babies succumb due to inadequate care and the high costs associated with their treatment.

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This year's World Prematurity Day, themed ‘Access to Quality Care, Everywhere,’ offered an opportunity to raise public awareness about caring for preterm infants.

Dr Lubanga emphasised that teenage mothers are often biologically underprepared to carry pregnancies to term. Many avoid prenatal clinics, resulting in undetected risk factors that compromise the baby's development.

"This day allows us to educate the public on ways to improve the survival of premature babies," Dr. Lubanga stated, adding that expectant mothers should receive comprehensive support to ensure healthier outcomes.

He explained that preterm babies often face challenges such as underdeveloped lungs, requiring immediate placement in nurseries for stabilization.

These infants typically weigh between 750g and 1.2kg, far below the recommended newborn weight of 3kg.

To aid their survival, preterm babies are given surfactant medication to support lung development. Kangaroo care, where mothers engage in skin-to-skin contact with their infants, has proven effective in enhancing the physical and neurological health of preterm babies.

“Kangaroo care regulates the baby’s body temperature, helps conserve energy, and promotes weight gain and brain development,” he noted.

Research indicates that preterm infants who receive 60- to 120-minute kangaroo care sessions show significant improvements in reflexes, attention, and response to stimuli. Additional benefits include better sleep, faster weight gain, and earlier hospital discharge.

Dr Lubanga stressed that much needs to be done in Bungoma County to reduce preterm births, noting contributing factors such as infections, narrow birth canals in teenage mothers, diabetes, and hypertension.

 "Women should have children at the right time to avoid complications," he advised, urging expectant mothers to attend all recommended antenatal care (ANC) visits.

Susan Nangila, Deputy Nursing Officer in charge of the newborn unit at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, highlighted the global burden of prematurity.

"Globally, 3.4 million babies are born prematurely annually, with 1 million dying each year," she said.

In Kenya, an estimated 134 premature babies are born daily, 37 per cent of whom die within their first year.

At the Bungoma facility, approximately 160 babies are admitted monthly, 75 per cent of whom are preterm.

Nangila stated that prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal mortality in the region.

"Prematurity can often be prevented, but its management is resource-intensive, particularly in terms of respiratory, infection, and nutritional support," she concluded, emphasising the importance of awareness and prevention measures.