The Relationship Between Occupation and Parity with the Incidence of Premature Birth at Dewi Sartika General Hospital, Kendari City

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity. Maternal employment status and parity have been identified as contributing factors. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between maternal employment and parity with preterm birth occurrence at Dewi Sartika General Hospital, Kendari City. Methods: This analytical study employed a cross-sectional approach. The population and sample consisted of 79 mothers who delivered prematurely at Dewi Sartika General Hospital during 2018-2022, selected using total sampling method. Secondary data were obtained from medical records and analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with Chi-Square test at 0.05 significance level.

Results: The majority of mothers experiencing preterm birth were aged 20-35 years (75.9%), primipara (50.6%), high school educated (54.4%), and employed (69.6%). Preterm classification was most dominant (49.4%). Significant associations were found between employment status and preterm birth classification (p = 0.002), and between parity and preterm birth classification (p = 0.041). Working mothers tended to experience more severe preterm births (very preterm), while high-risk parity (primipara and multipara ≥4) was associated with increased severe preterm occurrence. Conclusion: Maternal employment and parity have significant associations with preterm birth occurrence. Prevention strategies should consider maternal workload and provide education regarding pregnancy risks based on parity. Promotive and preventive interventions in healthcare facilities are essential to reduce preterm birth incidence