Incidence of Preterm Infants, Indications of Admission, Risk Factors, and Discharge Outcome: A Retrospective Study

Background: Prematurity is still a major cause of neonatal and infant mortality morbidity. Aim: This study aimed to describe the incidence preterm infants, indications admission, risk factors, discharge outcome. Materials Methods: A retrospective, descriptive design was used. sample 692 infants admitted Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) included. structured sheet used gather necessary data. It involved two parts: characteristics their mothers factors concerning birth. Results: The found that 49.4% neonates were preterm; among them, 48.1% died on discharge. Moreover, there significant relations between type gestation (p=0.000), mothers' age (p=0.001), anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, premature rupture membranes, obstructed labor, family history medical diseases, diseases with infants' gestational (p=0.01, 0.001, 0.02, 0.01, 0.000, respectively). it observed higher admission who had respiratory problems, followed by gastrointestinal problems. Conclusion: There prevalence rate NICU. Likewise, gestation, age, presence complications during pregnancy, bad obstetric history, most common prematurity. problems main etiology for Therefore, early screening pregnancy recommended. Implications Nursing Practice: Providing educational programs pediatric nurses will increase level awareness regarding incidence, indications, outcome prematurity, thus reducing morbidity infants.