Abstract of Master’s Dissertation
No.1
CourseMaster of Public Health

NameSAMBATH SREYLEAK

ThesisRisk factors associated with Preterm Births: A Case-Control study at National Maternal andTitle

Child Health Center in Cambodia

Abstract of Master’s Dissertation
Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is well-known as a public health problem, threatening the lives of millionsof babies in the world. WHO defines PTB as live birth delivery before the completeness of 37 weeks ofgestational age or less than 259 days from the last first day of menstruation. It is estimated that 15 million
babies are born prematurely each year, and more than one million die from its complications. The higher
prevalence is in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where health systems are fragile and healthcare
services utilization is low. In 2019, prematurity was responsible for 44% of neonatal deaths in Cambodia.
However, the risk factors associated with preterm birth and the available data are scarce and not well
documented. The identification of associated risk factors is essential for timely intervention in at-risk pregnant
women. Thus, it is urgent to identify the potential associated risk factors of PTB in Cambodia.

Objectives:
This study aims to investigate factors associated with PTB among postpartum women enrolled at National
Maternal and Child Health Center (NMCHC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Specifically, are:
1. Describe the socio-demographic characteristics of postpartum mothers.
2. Identify factors associated with PTB among the participants.

Methods:

A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was carried out on 100 cases and 100 control

postpartum mothers from mid-July to early September 2022 in NMCHC. Cases and control groups wererecruited from the delivery ward’s registration book. When an eligible case was identified, the respective
control group was equivalently selected until the required sample size was attained. The gestational age wasdetermined using the last menstruation period (LMP) with or without reliable ultrasonography measured
between the first trimester until the 16th week of gestation. Face-to-face interviews using structured
questionnaires and participants’ medical record files were utilized to collect data.
＊The abstract, containing background, objectives, methods, results and conclusion should not exceed 300-500words and printed double sided onA4 paper)

Abstract of Master’s Dissertation
No.2
CourseMaster of Public Health

NameSAMBATH SREYLEAK

Microsoft Excel 2016 and Stata IC software program (version 15.1) were used for data entry and statisticalanalysis, respectively. Independent variables with P-value ≤ 0.25 in bivariate analysis were purposefully
imputed in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR) and 95%CI, along with
P-value ≤ 0.05, were considered significant for the association. Ethical approval was obtained.

Results: Out of 100 cases and 100 control postpartum mothers recruited, the response rate was 93.89%.
Maternal aged 18 to 24 years [AOR=4.51, 95%CI: 1.977-10.326, P-value≤0.001], higher education[AOR=2.743, 95%CI:1.057-7.118, P-value≤ 0.038], twin gestations [AOR=20.281, 95%CI: 2.270-181.195,P-value ≤ 0.007], PROM [AOR=4.564, 95%CI: 2.085-9.989, P-value≤0.001], pre-eclampsia/eclampsia[AOR=3.954, 95%CI: 1.484-10.536, p-value≤ 0.006] were found to be risk factors associated with PTB.
However, sexual intercourse in the last trimester of pregnancy was a protective factor against PTB[AOR=0.494, 95%CI: 0.254-0.961, P-value≤ 0.038].

Conclusion and Recommendation: This study concluded that maternal aged 18 to 24 years, PROM, twin
gestations, educated mothers, and pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia were risk factors exposing pregnant women toPTB. Nevertheless, sexual intercourse was a protective factor. Although some independent variables havenot demonstrated an association with PTB, they still need to be further investigated or can be used forscreening at-risk women.

Keywords: Preterm birth, risk factors, case-control study (Word count: 497 words)