Association between antenatal corticosteroid use and perinatal mortality among preterm births in hospitals in Tanzania

• Published in: PloS one 2021-07, Vol.16 (7), p.e0254916
• Main Authors: Mwita, Stanley, Konje, Eveline, Kamala, Benjamin, Izina, Angelina, Kilonzo, Semvua, Kigombola, Andrew, Marwa, Karol J, Jande, Mary, Dewey, Deborah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage; Adult; Antibiotics; Apgar score; Babies; Biology and Life Sciences; Complications and side effects; Corticoids; Corticosteroids; Exposure; Female; Gestation; Gestational age; Health aspects; Health care facilities; Health risks; Hospital facilities; Hospitals; Humans; Infant mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infants; Infants (Premature); Infections; Male; Medical records; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mortality; Multivariate analysis; Neonates; Newborn babies; Patient outcomes; Perinatal exposure; Perinatal Mortality; Population studies; Pregnancy; Premature birth; Premature Birth - drug therapy; Premature Birth - mortality; Prospective Studies; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - drug therapy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - mortality; Sepsis; Sepsis - drug therapy; Sepsis - mortality; Stillbirth; Surfactants; Tanzania - epidemiology; Womens health
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254916

The primary aims of this study were to investigate if exposure to antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) was associated with lower rates of perinatal mortality (primary outcome) and other adverse perinatal outcomes (i.e., stillbirth, early neonatal mortality, APGAR score of < 7 at 5 mins, neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome) in preterm infants in hospitals in Tanzania. We also examine factors associated with administration of ACS among women at risk of preterm delivery. A hospital-based prospective chart review study was undertaken in four hospitals located in Nyamagana and Sengerema districts, Tanzania. The study population included all stillborn and live born preterm infants delivered between 24 to 34 weeks of gestation between July 2019 to February 2020. A total 1125 preterm infants were delivered by 1008 women (895 singletons, 230 multiple). Sociodemographic and medical data were recorded from participants' medical records. Three hundred and fifty-six (35.3%) women were administered at least one dose of ACS between 24 to 34 weeks' gestation and 385 (34.2%) infants were exposed to ACS. Infants exposed to ACS had a lower rate of perinatal mortality (13.77%) compared to those who were not exposed (28.38%). Multivariate analysis indicated that infants exposed to ACS were less likely to die during perinatal period, aRR 0.34 (95%CI 0.26-0.44). Only one-third of the sample was provided with ACS. Administration of ACS was associated with maternal education, attending antenatal care more than 3 times, method used to assess gestational age, maternal infection, exposure to maternal antibiotics, delivery mode and level of health facility. ACS significantly reduced the risk in perinatal mortality among infants born preterm in a limited resource setting. However, only about one-third of eligible women were provided with ACS, indicating low usage of ACS. Numerous factors were associated with low usage of ACS in this setting.